scarcely vs hardly

Both 'scarcely' and 'hardly' are adverbs that are used to indicate that something is almost not happening or is almost not true. They are often used interchangeably in sentences. The choice between them depends on personal preference or the specific context of the sentence.

Last updated: June 21, 2024 • 146 views

The word 'scarcely' is a correct adverb used to indicate that something is almost not happening or is almost not true.

"scarcely"

It is often used in sentences to convey a sense of rarity or near absence of something.

Examples:

She could scarcely believe her eyes.
There was scarcely any food left in the fridge.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was scarcely twelve years old when I was abandoned by my protectors.
Some of them can scarcely do more than toddle.
Information about his life is scarcely traceable.
I think he scarcely knows himself.
And during the conversation You scarcely said a word.
There are scarcely any horses left.
And I've scarcely seen you all week.
We scarcely have time for our essential tasks.
He can shoot arrows, his feet scarcely make imprints on the snow...
A slight curvature of the right leg but scarcely visible.
I can scarcely recall the sound of his voice.
The sun scarcely ever shines here.
I only got here just recently and scarcely have had time to learn.
He had scarcely returned to Bologna when a fatal illness attacked him.
I scarcely knew the terrain around Lallybroch.
Horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine.
There is scarcely any scrutiny of their activities or operation.
The agreement will scarcely influence their decision.
This can scarcely be called particularly democratic.
Stephano is a player who scarcely needs introducing.

Alternatives:

barely
almost not
hardly
rarely
seldom

The word 'hardly' is a correct adverb used to indicate that something is almost not happening or is almost not true.

"hardly"

It is often used in sentences to convey a sense of difficulty or near impossibility of something.

Examples:

He could hardly contain his excitement.
There was hardly any time left to finish the project.

Show examples from the web [+]

5 days ago ... Kids Definition ; 1 · in a severe or harsh manner. deal hardly with them ; 2 · with difficulty. a hardly won victory ; 3 · only just : barely, ...
Jun 12, 2024 ... hardly adverb (ONLY JUST) ... only just; almost not: can hardly I could hardly hear her at the back. The party had hardly started when she left.
Apr 16, 2016 ... The question I ask myself is; am I thinking hard, or hardly thinking? In the case of He-man, I think its clear that I am hardly thinking.

Alternatives:

barely
almost not
scarcely
rarely
seldom

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

scarcely vs hardly

"scarcely"

"hardly"

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text