scarcely visible

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarcely visible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is barely able to be seen or detected. Here is an example: As I walked through the dense fog, I could feel the dampness seeping into my clothes and my visibility decreasing. The path ahead was scarcely visible, but I pressed on, determined to reach my destination.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Scarcely visible on a high balcony, she waved as Grover rode in the Decoration Day parade.

The Washington Post

But lines of reddish text, scarcely visible, run perpendicular to those prayers.

The New York Times - Arts

In the spring the police were scarcely visible on the streets.

The New Yorker

Sinister's superiority to the first two pictures, however, is scarcely visible to the naked eye.

The Guardian - Film

In scrutinising the conduct of this investigation, it illuminates the different - at times scarcely visible - faces of prejudice.

The Guardian

In mid-July the British began a two-week artillery bombardment of a series of scarcely visible ridges rising gently around the salient on which the Germans waited.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Ms. Megawati has scarcely been visible in the tumultuous events of the last two weeks, and even her admirers said she might be consigning herself to political irrelevance in the new Indonesia.

The New York Times

Polybius, the general's son, carried the urn, so covered with garlands and ribbons as scarcely to be visible; and the noblest of the Achaeans accompanied him.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But it seemed many of the 51,000 fans in attendance missed the memo as there was scarcely more red visible than on Friday and Saturday.

The Guardian - Sport

However, after RhB uptake, the smooth surfaces of the adsorbents were observed to be rough, and the visible openings scarcely exist (Fig. 2c).

Applied Water Science

There's scarcely a female form visible, save the group of women who came to celebrate International Women's Day by ringing the storied bell.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely visible" to accurately describe things that are difficult to see due to distance, lighting, or obstruction, ensuring your descriptions convey the degree of limited visibility.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely visible" when something is completely invisible. Reserve it for cases where an object or detail is present but very difficult to perceive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely visible" functions as a descriptive modifier, specifically an adverb-adjective combination. It modifies a noun by indicating the degree to which something can be seen. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely visible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something that is difficult to see. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity. It functions as a descriptive modifier, typically found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. For alternative expressions, consider "barely perceptible" or "faintly discernible". When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the degree of limited visibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely perceptible

Replaces "visible" with "perceptible", focusing on the limited degree to which something can be noticed.

faintly discernible

Uses "discernible" to emphasize the challenge in distinguishing something from its background.

hardly noticeable

Focuses on the difficulty in noticing something, rather than seeing it.

almost imperceptible

Highlights the near impossibility of perceiving something.

scarcely discernible

Interchangeable synonyms. Replace the word "visible" with "discernible".

dimly visible

Replaces "scarcely" with "dimly", emphasizing the faintness of the visibility.

just barely visible

Adds "just" and "barely" for emphasis on the minimal visibility.

nearly invisible

Shifts the focus to the object almost not being visible at all.

partially obscured

Indicates that something is not fully visible because it is covered or blocked.

indistinctly seen

Focuses on the lack of clarity in what is being seen.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely visible" in a sentence?

Use "scarcely visible" to describe something that is hard to see. For example, "The outline of the mountain was "scarcely visible" through the dense fog".

What can I say instead of "scarcely visible"?

You can use alternatives like "barely perceptible", "faintly discernible", or "hardly noticeable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scarcely visible" or "scarcely noticeable"?

Both phrases are correct, but they emphasize different aspects. "Scarcely visible" refers specifically to something difficult to see, while "scarcely noticeable" implies something difficult to detect or recognize in general.

What's the difference between "nearly invisible" and "scarcely visible"?

"Nearly invisible" suggests something is almost impossible to see, whereas ""scarcely visible"" implies it's still present but extremely difficult to perceive.