with scant effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with scant effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is achieved with very little effort or difficulty. Example: "She completed the project with scant effort, impressing her colleagues with her efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Despite the high cost of the Nest device, Mr. Fadell contends it will pay for itself in a year in energy-savings, with scant effort from the user.

The New York Times - Tech

From the complaint filed today in the Northern District of California federal court: "Vostu has brazenly appropriated the copyright-protected aspects of Zynga's games(as well as almost every other aspect of Zynga's business) – with scant effort to mask their strategy– and then offered games virtually identical to Zynga's games to prospective players in the United States and elsewhere".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The main research diffusion mechanisms are researcher driven, basically scientific journals and conferences, with very scant efforts in broader dissemination mechanisms such as executive summaries, newsletters or blogs.

Health Research Policy and Systems

The high success rates typically reflect scant effort to find monitor whether patients are experiencing fibrillation without symptoms, one of many problems with the highly variable condition.

The New York Times

Despite the scant effort devoted to the Web store, Ms. Siegel said it generated $50,000 in revenues last year, to go along with $50,000 the organization raised through a one-page list of items it included in newsletters.

The New York Times

A scant effort has been made in the development of numerical methods capable of handling time-dependent flow of integral constitutive equations [25 27].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Thus far, these efforts have met with scant success [ 26].

BMC Cancer

Those advantages have receded, as Nasdaq's European operations have made little impact and efforts to set up exchanges elsewhere have met with scant success.

The New York Times

But with scant hope.

The New York Times - Magazine

Tenants disappear with scant explanation.

The New York Times - Arts

Thereafter a decade passed with scant change.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with scant effort" to subtly emphasize the ease with which a task is accomplished, adding a touch of sophistication to your writing. Consider it when you want to highlight efficiency or natural talent.

Common error

Avoid using "with scant effort" excessively in formal or academic writing, as it may come across as dismissive or lacking in seriousness. Opt for more neutral phrases like "easily" or "with minimal effort" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with scant effort" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to describe how an action is performed. It indicates that something is done with very little effort or difficulty. As shown by Ludwig, it's deemed correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with scant effort" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial phrase that emphasizes the ease or lack of difficulty in performing an action. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides examples showcasing its usage in various contexts, primarily in news and scientific publications. While not overly common, it adds a subtle layer of sophistication when highlighting efficiency or natural ability. Consider using related phrases like "with minimal exertion" or "with ease" for slight variations in tone or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with minimal exertion

Replaces "effort" with "exertion", emphasizing the physical or mental energy required.

with little difficulty

Focuses on the absence of difficulty rather than the amount of effort.

with ease

A more concise way of saying something is done easily.

effortlessly

Converts the phrase to an adverb, describing how an action is performed.

with next to no effort

Emphasizes the near absence of effort required.

with hardly any effort

Similar to "with next to no effort", stressing the small amount of effort.

with no strain

Highlights the lack of stress or pressure involved.

with relative ease

Indicates that the task is easier compared to other similar tasks.

without much trouble

Emphasizes the absence of problems or complications.

with almost no trouble

Similar to 'without much trouble' but stresses on close to absence of trouble.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "with scant effort" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "with minimal exertion", "with relative ease", or "with little difficulty".

What's the difference between "with scant effort" and "effortlessly"?

"With scant effort" is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, while "effortlessly" is an adverb that describes how an action is performed. The adverb "effortlessly" directly describes the verb, whereas "with scant effort" provides additional context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "with scant effort"?

The phrase "with scant effort" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that something was achieved easily or with very little difficulty. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though overuse in highly formal writing should be avoided.

What are some common synonyms for "with scant effort"?

Some common synonyms include "with ease", "with minimal exertion", and "with little difficulty". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.