What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hardly
Example
I can hardly hear you over the noise. [hardly: adverb]
Example
He hardly ever goes to the gym. [hardly: adverb]
scarcely
Example
She scarcely had time to finish her work. [scarcely: adverb]
Example
There were scarcely any people at the park on a rainy day. [scarcely: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hardly is more common than scarcely in everyday language and covers a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hardly and scarcely?
Scarcely is slightly more formal than hardly, making it more appropriate for formal writing or speech.
