there was hardly

USAGE SUMMARY

'There was hardly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to denote scarcity, as in the following example: "There was hardly any food left on the table, so I had to make do with a few scraps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Her path there was hardly assured.

The New York Times

There was hardly time.

The New York Times - Books

There was hardly unanimity.

The New York Times

"There was hardly any pay.

The New York Times

There was hardly a blip.

The Guardian - Sport

There was hardly anyone else about.

The New Yorker

There was hardly anyone around.

The New Yorker

There was hardly any conversation.

The New Yorker

This time there was hardly a peep.

The New York Times

There was hardly a single Ahmadinejad poster.

The New Yorker

There was hardly a lawyer in sight.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there was hardly" to effectively convey scarcity or near absence in a sentence. Ensure the context makes it clear what is lacking or minimal.

Common error

Avoid using "there is hardly" when referring to past events; "there was hardly" is the correct past tense form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there was hardly" functions as an existential construction expressing scarcity or near absence. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts, indicating a limited quantity or degree of something. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assertion of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there was hardly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express scarcity or near absence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various writing styles, particularly in news, media, scientific and formal contexts. When aiming to convey a limited quantity or degree, "there was hardly" is an effective choice. Remember to use it in the past tense when referring to past situations and consider alternatives like "there was barely", and "there was almost no" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was barely

Emphasizes a minimal amount or degree, suggesting something exists but is at its lowest limit.

there was scarcely

Similar to 'barely' but may imply a sense of something being just enough or almost not present.

there was almost no

Directly states the near absence of something, making it clear that very little existed.

there was little

Indicates a small quantity or amount, suggesting less than expected or desired.

there was virtually no

Highlights that something was not present to all practical extents or purposes.

there was practically no

Indicates an absence that is nearly complete, close to having none.

there was rarely

Shifts focus to the infrequency of an occurrence rather than quantity.

there was seldom

Similar to 'rarely', indicating infrequent or uncommon events.

there was just about no

Emphasizes the idea that something is at a minimal point or is nearly nonexistent.

there was only just

Suggests that something only barely exists or occurs, emphasizing its fragility.

FAQs

How can I use "there was hardly" in a sentence?

"There was hardly" is used to indicate a small amount or degree of something. For example, "There was hardly any traffic on the road today" means there was very little traffic.

What's a good alternative to "there was hardly"?

Alternatives include "there was barely", "there was scarcely", or "there was almost no", which all convey a similar meaning of scarcity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "there is hardly" instead of "there was hardly"?

"There is hardly" is used for present situations, while "there was hardly" is used for past situations. Choose the correct tense based on the time frame you're referring to.

What is the difference between "there was hardly" and "there was nearly"?

"There was hardly" emphasizes scarcity, while "there was nearly" suggests something almost happened or existed. The phrases have distinct meanings and shouldn't be used interchangeably. For example, There was nearly an accident suggests that one almost took place, while there was hardly any damage implies the event did take place but with very little impact.