"has hardly been" vs "hardly has been"

Question

"has hardly been" vs "hardly has been"

Both "hardly has been" and "has hardly been" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Hardly has been" is used to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of an action, while "has hardly been" is used to indicate that something has occurred to a small extent or almost not at all.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

This phrase is used to convey that something has happened to a small degree or almost not at all.

Examples:

The issue has hardly been addressed by the committee.
She has hardly been able to focus on her work lately.
The project has hardly been started yet.
He has hardly been seen in public since the incident.
The book has hardly been read by anyone.

Alternatives:

Has barely been
Has scarcely been
Has almost not been
Has to a small extent been
Has been minimal

This phrase is used to emphasize that something has rarely occurred or has been done very infrequently.

Examples:

Hardly has been such a beautiful sight seen before.
Hardly has been a more challenging task assigned to us.
Hardly has been a better opportunity presented to him.
Hardly has been a more generous offer made to us.
Hardly has been a more perfect day for a picnic.

Alternatives:

Rarely has been
Seldom has been
Scarcely has been
Barely has been
Almost never has been

Answer 1

has hardly been

This phrase is correct and is used to indicate that something has occurred to a small extent or almost not at all.

Answer 2

hardly has been

This phrase is correct and is used to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of an action.

"has hardly been" vs "hardly has been"

has hardly been

hardly has been

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