actually enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "actually enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is sufficient or satisfactory in a particular context. Example: "After reviewing the budget, I realized that the funds allocated for the project are actually enough to cover all expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"Winning," Harrison said, "isn't actually enough sometimes".

The Guardian - Sport

"There comes a point when enough is actually enough," she said.

Independent

Even this widely-shared videotaped day of harassment isn't actually enough to generate the consensus that this behaviour is wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Often these meetings and educational activities have to be moved to the weekends as there aren't actually enough hours during the weekdays to go through them," Jha says.

The Guardian

The feeling of complete engagement is only enhanced by a guest's awareness that there is actually enough time to converse thoughtfully and thoroughly with an interlocutor who is interested in the subject.

The New York Times - Arts

They're heroes to the last, exalted for giving four years of their lives to 50 seconds on a pommel horse or 36 seconds in a canoe and served up with nothing more challenging in the press/athlete mixed zones of the Games than the question of whether bronze was actually enough.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

A true (enough) how-possibly model is (though we may not know it) also a how-actually (enough) model.

SEP

A how-actually-enough schema describes how entities and activities are in fact organized to produce the phenomenon.

SEP

Mechanists also emphasize the distinction between a how-possibly schema and a how-actually-enough schema (Craver and Darden 2013).

SEP

And the distinction between how-possibly and how-actually-enough likewise seems to privilege accuracy over other goals of modeling, which often require distortion and falsity (see Wimsatt 2007; Weisberg 2007; Levy and Bechtel 2012; Batterman and Rice 2014; Chirimuuta 2014; Levy 2014).

SEP

The term "how-actually-enough" captures the idea that the requisite "accuracy" of a mechanistic model can vary considerably from one pragmatic context to another (Weisberg 2013).A false how possibly model is merely a how possibly model; just-so-stories are merely how possibly models (Dray 1957; Brandon 1985).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "actually enough" to underscore that something meets the necessary requirements, especially when there might be doubt or surprise. For example, "The budget, after careful review, was actually enough to cover all essential expenses."

Common error

Avoid using "actually enough" excessively in formal or academic writing where a more precise term like "sufficient" or "adequate" may be more appropriate. Overuse can make your writing sound less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "actually enough" functions as an intensifying adverb modifying an adjective. It emphasizes that something meets a certain threshold or requirement, often highlighting a surprising or unexpected level of adequacy. As shown in Ludwig, it's frequently used to convey a sense of surprise or reassurance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "actually enough" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize that something meets a certain requirement, often surprisingly or unexpectedly. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. While primarily found in news, media and science contexts, its informal tone might make it less suitable for highly formal writing. Alternatives like "genuinely sufficient" or "truly adequate" can be used to refine the nuance. When using "actually enough", ensure it adds emphasis and clarity to your writing, underscoring a point of sufficiency that might otherwise be overlooked.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

actually sufficiently

Replaces "enough" with "sufficiently", which is a more formal synonym and slightly alters the tone.

genuinely enough

Replaces "actually" with "genuinely", implying a more sincere or authentic level of sufficiency.

truly enough

Replaces "actually" with "truly" emphasizing the sincerity and genuineness of the sufficiency.

essentially enough

Substituting "actually" with "essentially" emphasizes the fundamental or core sufficiency of something.

effectively enough

Replacing "actually" with "effectively" highlights the functional or practical sufficiency of something to achieve a desired outcome.

rather enough

Using "rather" instead of "actually" suggests a moderate degree of sufficiency, possibly exceeding expectations slightly.

practically enough

Replacing "actually" with "practically" highlights the real-world or functional sufficiency of something.

currently enough

Using "currently" focuses on the present sufficiency, implying it may not be the case in the future.

already enough

Substituting "actually" with "already" implies that the sufficiency has been achieved prior to the present moment.

technically enough

Replaces "actually" with "technically" indicating sufficiency from a formal or strict perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "actually enough" in a sentence?

Use "actually enough" to emphasize that something is sufficient, often when it's surprising or contrary to expectations. For instance, "The smaller engine was "surprisingly enough" to power the vehicle efficiently."

What are some alternatives to "actually enough"?

Alternatives include "genuinely sufficient", "truly adequate", or "effectively sufficient" depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "actually enough" or "sufficient" in formal writing?

In formal writing, "sufficient" is often preferred because it is more concise and professional. "Actually enough" can sometimes sound informal or conversational. However, if you need to emphasize a surprising level of sufficiency, "actually enough" can be appropriate.

What does it mean when something is described as "actually enough"?

It means that something is not just adequate, but surprisingly or unexpectedly so. It emphasizes that the thing in question meets the requirements, often defying prior assumptions or doubts.