would scarcely be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would scarcely be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is unlikely to happen or to emphasize the rarity of a situation. Example: "Given the circumstances, it would scarcely be surprising if they decided to cancel the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Even without such content, 129 pages would scarcely be enough to discuss Hitchcock's oeuvre.

The Economist

An England perverted by the Conservatives, the story suggests, would scarcely be worth surviving to see.

The New York Times - Books

That would scarcely be possible, given the fierceness of the current laws.

The Economist

Life at court, of course, would scarcely be possible without war.

The New Yorker

And without "misappropriation theory," Khuzami's crusade against hedge funds would scarcely be possible.

The New York Times - Magazine

It would scarcely be Nashville without this dedicated celebration of the Country Music Association.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

I'd scarcely been there a year when the whole vault finally collapsed, taking the Star and all the old names with it.

The Guardian - Books

She'd been assured that the authorities would find the man and check the dog for rabies, but in her distressed state she'd scarcely been able to listen or to care.

The New Yorker

Since late March, she'd been in a trance of self-absorption that was like a narcotic to her — in fact, to get through the worst of her insomniac nights Hadley had had to take sleeping pills, which left her dazed and groggy throughout the day — and she'd scarcely been aware of Anton Kruppev except as a helpful and persistent presence, a worker who seemed always to be waiting on her.

The New Yorker

Since late March, she'd been in a trance of self-absorption that was like a narcotic to her in fact, to get through the worst of her insomniac nights Hadley had had to take sleeping pills, which left her dazed and groggy throughout the day and she'd scarcely been aware of Anton Kruppev except as a helpful and persistent presence, a worker who seemed always to be waiting on her.

The New Yorker

I'd scarcely been so excited during a sporting event in my life.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would scarcely be" to express a situation that is highly unlikely or almost impossible, adding a sense of understatement.

Common error

Avoid using "would scarcely be" in situations where a more direct and simple expression of improbability is sufficient. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would scarcely be" functions as a modal construction used to express a low degree of probability or possibility. It often implies an element of surprise or disbelief. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

19%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would scarcely be" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a low probability or near impossibility. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and prevalence across various reliable sources, especially in news and academic contexts. While versatile, it's best used when a nuanced sense of improbability is desired, avoiding overuse in simple statements. Consider alternatives like "would hardly be" or "would barely be" for similar meanings. The phrase generally maintains a neutral register, lending itself to both formal and informal communication, with a slight tendency towards formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would barely be

Replaces "scarcely" with "barely", indicating a minimal degree or amount.

would hardly be

Substitutes "scarcely" with "hardly", suggesting something is unlikely.

would just barely be

Adds "just" for emphasis, highlighting the narrow margin.

would negligibly be

Replaces "scarcely" with "negligibly", indicating an insignificant effect.

would infrequently be

Focuses on the rare occurrence of something.

would seldom be

Emphasizes the infrequency or rarity of an event.

would improbably be

Highlights the low probability of something happening.

would unlikely be

Directly states the low likelihood of an event.

would faintly be

Suggests a very weak or slight possibility.

would nominally be

Indicates that something exists in name only, with little practical effect.

FAQs

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

The phrase "would scarcely be" is used to express that something is very unlikely or almost impossible. For example, "It "would scarcely be" surprising if he decided to resign after this scandal".

What does "would scarcely be" mean?

The expression "would scarcely be" indicates a low probability or near impossibility of something occurring or being true. It suggests that the situation is highly unlikely.

What can I say instead of "would scarcely be"?

Alternatives to "would scarcely be" include phrases like "would hardly be", "would barely be", or "would unlikely be", which convey a similar sense of improbability.

Is it more appropriate to use "would scarcely be" or "would hardly be"?

Both "would scarcely be" and "would hardly be" are grammatically correct and have very similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, although "would scarcely be" might sound slightly more formal or emphatic.