Barely acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely acceptable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that meets the minimum standards or requirements but is not satisfactory. Example: The report was barely acceptable, lacking sufficient detail and clarity. Alternative expressions include "just acceptable," "hardly satisfactory," and "marginally acceptable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

That process is considered barely acceptable for human vaccine today.

The New York Times

And this isn't just me giving you permission or a barely acceptable compromise.

The New York Times - Magazine

A new plan to allow snowmobiles into Yellowstone is a bad and barely acceptable compromise.

The New York Times

Guaraldi's jazz improvisations on "Linus and Lucy" are blocky and just barely acceptable.

The New Yorker

A large proportion of the others would be barely acceptable at the community college level in America.

The Economist

Among those, 85percentt reported operating in buildings that were in an unacceptable or barely acceptable condition.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Glenn Maxwell made a gallant 95 in the Bushrangers' first innings, resurrecting that total from 109-6 to a barely-acceptable 218.

The Guardian - Sport

That argument is barely more acceptable to Mr Kerry than it is to Mr Bush.

The Economist

Yet even the really big firms are paying staff a lot but barely making acceptable profits on their newly enlarged capital bases Goldman's return on equity (ROE) was 10% in the third quarter.

The Economist

What made me mad is that said venues are happy to take the billions that games earn but still treat them as barely more acceptable than porn.

TechCrunch

It's barely an acceptable behavior at premieres and in day to day life, it's completely unacceptable.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely acceptable", consider whether a more precise term might better convey the specific degree of inadequacy. Adding context clarifies why something is only "barely acceptable".

Common error

Avoid using "barely acceptable" too frequently in formal reports or academic papers. It can sound dismissive or subjective. Instead, provide specific reasons for the assessment, such as "the methodology was flawed" or "the results lacked statistical significance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely acceptable" functions as an adjective phrase. It typically modifies a noun, indicating that the noun's quality or condition is at the lowest limit of what is considered adequate. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is used across diverse fields.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely acceptable" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase indicating minimal adequacy, as validated by Ludwig AI. While considered correct, its usage suggests reservations or deficiencies, prompting consideration of more precise terms. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts, reflecting its broad applicability across diverse writing styles. When using "barely acceptable", ensure the context supports this nuanced assessment and consider alternatives when a more direct or descriptive term is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally adequate

Emphasizes the slight degree to which something meets requirements.

just passable

Highlights the idea of meeting the minimum threshold for acceptance.

scarcely satisfactory

Focuses on the lack of satisfaction derived from something.

minimally sufficient

Indicates that something barely provides what is needed.

tolerable at best

Suggests that something is only acceptable under specific circumstances.

hardly good enough

Highlights the deficiency in quality or suitability.

almost inadequate

Emphasizes how close something is to being completely unacceptable.

just about adequate

Indicates a slight margin above inadequacy.

permissible, but not ideal

Highlights the trade-offs associated with accepting something.

making do

Suggests that something is being accepted out of necessity rather than preference.

FAQs

How can I use "barely acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "barely acceptable" to describe something that meets the minimum requirements but isn't satisfactory. For example, "The quality of the work was "barely acceptable", but we decided to proceed anyway."

What are some alternatives to "barely acceptable"?

Alternatives include "marginally adequate", "just passable", or "scarcely satisfactory". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "barely acceptable" or "unacceptable"?

"Barely acceptable" implies a minimal level of adequacy, while "unacceptable" means something doesn't meet the required standards at all. Choose the term that accurately reflects the situation. Consider also that there are alternatives to "unacceptable" that may fit better into the specific sentence, such as "not good enough".

When is it appropriate to use the term "barely acceptable"?

It's appropriate when something just meets the minimum requirements or standards, but there are significant shortcomings or concerns. Use it when a more positive term like "acceptable" would be misleading, but a completely negative term like "unacceptable" would be too harsh.