She BARELY sees her parents these days.

Question

HiCould you please tell me why this sentence is wrong?She BARELY sees her parents these days.Thanks,Tom

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

It isn't wrong.

Mr. Tom · Answer

Mr. Tom · Answer

Mr. Wordy, this expensive dictionary is really treacherous. Since the picture is not clear, I'd write what it has written for barely.

Hardly and Scarcely can be used to mean "almost never" but barely is not used in this way. She hardly sees her parents these days. not--She barely sees her parents these days.

Mr. Tom · Answer

I hope I am not getting on your nerves. But I got the right image.

Mr Wordy · Answer

Mr. Tom
Hardly and Scarcely can be used to mean "almost never" but barely is not used in this way. She hardly sees her parents these days. not--She barely sees her parents these days.

This is news to me. Anyone else have a view on this?

Mr. Tom · Answer

Don't trust the dictionary, Mr. Wordy. It has misinformed me before.

Tom

Yankee · Answer

Hi Tom

I agree with Mr Wordy that 'She barely sees her parents these days' seems OK. However, I would also say that using wording such as 'hardly ever' in a sentence like that would be much more common. That's my two cents.

She BARELY sees her parents these days.

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