Just like you would never say "I can't barely breathe" or "I don't rarely go there," you should never pair can't with hardly . She couldn't scarcely believe her eyes. Correct: She could scarcely believe her eyes. Why Do People Say "Can't Hardly"?
The alternative phrase, (short for cannot hardly ), is considered a double negative. In standard English, double negatives are grammatically incorrect because they cancel each other out, logically reversing the intended meaning of the sentence. The Grammar Breakdown: Why "Can’t Hardly" Fails is it can hardly or cant hardly free
The word hardly is a negative adverb. It means "barely," "scarcely," or "only just." Because hardly already carries a negative meaning, pairing it with a positive verb like can is the correct way to show that an action is barely possible. "I can hardly hear you." Just like you would never say "I can't
When you say "I can hardly hear you," you are saying: I am only just able to hear you. Examples of Correct Usage I believe that summer is already over. The music is so loud that I can hardly hear myself think. He could hardly walk after running the marathon. The Problem with "Can't Hardly" Why Do People Say "Can't Hardly"
In the landscape of the English language, few battles are fought as fiercely as the one between and "can’t hardly."
Always use "can hardly." It is the standard, correct way to express that something is barely possible.