scarcely working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is functioning very poorly or not at all. Example: "The old computer is scarcely working, making it difficult to complete my tasks efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is a concept being pushed by moderates, who fear that less-employed or unemployed actors (who constitute a large percentage of the union) are more likely to vote for a strike, having less to lose (since they're not, or are scarcely, working anyway).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was built, in large part, by slaves: "For the love of God send 100 negroes," wrote a military captain to Madrid, "we can scarcely work for the great heat".

The New York Times - Travel

In the second movie, for example, one of Che's lieutenants is told that his brother has been killed in battle, and the scene is signalled as an emotional jolt, yet it passes in such haste that we can scarcely work out who the bereaved man is, let alone the deceased.

The New Yorker

He lacks the trace of human work: there is no method; there is no order or arrangement in his procedure, and not only in the scarcely worked material texture, but in the spatial arrangement of the objects among them and in relation to their containers (the house, the backyard or the street).

City, Territory and Architecture

There's nothing light or breezy about it; it worked for him, but it could scarcely work for anyone else.

Wikipedia

This work is essentially a "private" contract in what is referred to as the "informal sector", as though it were scarcely work at all but a casual occupation carried out in the pleasant interstices of real life.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Graeme Souness had timed the signing and subsequent unveiling of Hakan Sukur as a deliberate psychological ploy, it could scarcely have worked better as the Worthington Cup holders eased into the last eight last night.

The Guardian - Sport

It could scarcely have worked out better.

BBC

Sony says these displays of attitude heighten the robot's realism, although in this case "attitude" is scarcely distinguishable from "not working".

The New York Times - Tech

The living conditions are scarcely better than the working environment.

Unicef

Mr. Sarkozy got right to work, scarcely concealing his political ambitions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the performance of a system or equipment, use "scarcely working" to clearly indicate that it is functioning at a minimal or unacceptable level. For example, "The server is scarcely working, causing frequent outages."

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely working" when you mean completely broken or non-functional. "Scarcely" implies some minimal level of operation, however deficient. If something is entirely broken, use terms like "not working" or "inoperative."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely working" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (often implied), indicating that something is functioning at a minimal or deficient level. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

9%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely working" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe something operating at a minimal or deficient level. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's found in a variety of contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While it implies some level of operation, it's crucial not to use it when something is entirely non-functional. Consider alternatives like "barely functioning" or "hardly operational" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely functional

Similar to the original, but emphasizes the functional aspect.

barely functioning

Emphasizes the minimal level of functionality.

hardly working at all

Emphasizes the significant lack of any real functionality.

hardly operational

Focuses on the lack of operational status.

almost non-functional

Highlights the near absence of functionality.

marginally working

Suggests a very slight degree of functionality.

minimally functional

Stresses the limited functionality.

virtually inoperative

Indicates a state close to being completely out of order.

rarely working

Focuses on the infrequency of working status.

infrequently working

Similar to rarely working, but more formal.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely working" to describe something that is functioning at a minimal or barely acceptable level. For instance, "The old computer is "scarcely working", making it difficult to complete my tasks efficiently."

What are some alternatives to "scarcely working"?

Alternatives include "barely functioning", "hardly operational", or "almost non-functional". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "scarcely working" grammatically correct?

Yes, "scarcely working" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a situation where something is functioning poorly or minimally.

What's the difference between "scarcely working" and "not working"?

"Scarcely working" implies that something is functioning at a very minimal level, whereas "not working" indicates a complete lack of functionality. For example, a machine that is "scarcely working" might still turn on, but perform poorly, while a machine that is "not working" doesn't turn on at all.