would hardly be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would hardly be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that something is unlikely to occur. For example, "The government would hardly be willing to pass a new tax on its citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would hardly be an encouraging development.

The New York Times

Pleasure would hardly be the point.

The New Yorker

It would hardly be his fault.

The Economist

Governing California would hardly be worthwhile.

The Economist

We would hardly be rich.

The New York Times

That would hardly be a trivial matter.

The New York Times

And that would hardly be desirable.

The Guardian

That would hardly be confidential information.

The New York Times

That would hardly be evidence that the outcome is right.

University of California, Berkeley

But a public statement would hardly be needed.

The New York Times - Sports

In most industries, this would hardly be a radical idea.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would hardly be", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the low probability. For example, "Given his lack of experience, he "would hardly be" the best choice for the job."

Common error

Avoid overusing "would hardly be" when a stronger negative is more appropriate. While it indicates improbability, in situations where something is clearly impossible, use "would not be" or similar stronger phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would hardly be" functions as a modal construction to express a low degree of probability or possibility. It modifies a statement, indicating that something is unlikely but not necessarily impossible. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would hardly be" is a versatile phrase used to express improbability or a low likelihood of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears across diverse sources, especially in News & Media. While suitable for many contexts, it's essential to recognize its nuance and avoid using it when stronger negative statements are required. Consider alternatives like "would scarcely be" or "would rarely be" to tailor your expression more precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would scarcely be

Replaces "hardly" with "scarcely", maintaining the same meaning of something being unlikely.

would rarely be

Substitutes "hardly" with "rarely", indicating infrequent occurrence rather than impossibility.

would unlikely be

Replaces "hardly" with "unlikely", focusing on the low probability of an event.

would improbably be

Substitutes "hardly" with "improbably", which emphasizes the low chance of something happening.

would not easily be

This alternative emphasizes the difficulty or challenge involved, rather than the impossibility.

would barely be

Replaces "hardly" with "barely", indicating a very small margin or degree.

would questionably be

Substitutes "hardly" with "questionably", focusing on the doubtfulness or uncertainty of something.

would debatably be

This alternative implies that something can be contested or disputed.

is highly improbable

Changes the entire structure to focus directly on the high improbability of something.

is quite doubtful

Rephrases to highlight the uncertainty and lack of confidence in a particular situation.

FAQs

How can I use "would hardly be" in a sentence?

The phrase "would hardly be" is used to express that something is unlikely or improbable. For example, "That "would hardly be" a solution to our problem."

What's a good substitute for "would hardly be"?

Alternatives to "would hardly be" include "would scarcely be", "would rarely be", or "would unlikely be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "would hardly be"?

While generally correct, "would hardly be" may not be suitable if you need to express complete impossibility. In such cases, using "would not be" or similar alternatives would be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "would hardly be" and "wouldn't be"?

"Would hardly be" suggests a low probability, while "wouldn't be" implies a stronger negation, often indicating impossibility or a very strong unlikelihood. The first suggests something is improbable, while the second suggests that something is definitely not going to occur.