adequate profit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adequate profit" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when discussing the financial success or viability of a business or venture. For example: - The company's goal is to generate an adequate profit each year. - Despite their efforts, they were unable to achieve an adequate profit margin. - Our analysis shows that the project is likely to yield an adequate profit for our investors.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Zebco reels no longer commanded an "adequate profit," the statement said.

The New York Times

The landlord claims the buildings are losing $1 million a year and cannot return an adequate profit — defined by the city's administrative code as 6 percent — if they remain.

The New York Times

Roughly 15 million households cannot get broadband from their phone or cable provider because the companies have been slow to expand their high-speed networks in areas where there are not enough customers to generate what they regard as an adequate profit.

The New York Times - Tech

Gone is the artists' housing: the housing will now be divided more or less equally between subsidized units for the neighborhood and market-rate ones, to ensure an adequate profit for the developers, among them, Bruce Ratner (who also sits on the board of BAM).

The New York Times - Magazine

An example of such price-fixing might be a resale price maintenance program, put in place by the manufacturer of a certain brand-name appliance, that guarantees adequate profit margins for the brand's retailers and lets them attempt to capture market share from one another via nonprice competition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On the other hand, enterprises are guaranteed adequate profit levels through technological improvements and the efficient use of resources.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Without the incentive of adequate profits, power producers have been reluctant to increase output, analysts say.

The New York Times

When the private sector is deleveraging and interest rates are low, banks normally struggle to make adequate profits.

The Economist

The would-be competitors, who all promised robust competition, discovered that they could not price retail power below this artificial ceiling and still make adequate profits.

The New York Times

There are "soon-to-be-public companies," Mr. Ballmer wrote last month in his annual e-mail message taking measure of his company and the technology industry, "that will deal, as we have, with flat stock price for a number of years while they build adequate profits" to justify their stock price.

The New York Times

"Auto companies have adequate profits," Cui Dongshu, the secretary general of the government-affiliated China Passenger Car Association told the New York Times in a phone interview.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial projections, quantify what "adequate profit" means in specific terms (e.g., percentage return or a specific dollar amount) to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "adequate profit" is universally defined. What is adequate for one business may be insufficient for another. Always consider factors such as industry standards, risk levels, and investment goals when assessing profitability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adequate profit" functions as a noun phrase acting as an object or complement within a sentence. It typically specifies the level of profitability that is considered sufficient or satisfactory. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is used to discuss financial success or viability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adequate profit" is a grammatically correct and relatively common term, particularly in business, science and news media contexts. Ludwig AI verifies its use in discussing financial viability. While seemingly straightforward, the term's meaning is subjective, depending on the specific situation and goals. When using this phrase, quantifying what constitutes "adequate" is crucial for clarity. Alternatives such as "sufficient earnings" or "reasonable return" can offer nuanced shades of meaning. Remember to define what "adequate" means within the specific context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficient earnings

Replaces "profit" with a synonym while maintaining the concept of sufficiency.

reasonable return

Focuses on the return on investment being reasonable, implying adequacy.

satisfactory gains

Highlights that the gains are satisfactory, suggesting they meet expectations.

acceptable revenue

Shifts focus to revenue, emphasizing its acceptability in terms of profit.

viable profitability

Emphasizes the viability of the profitability, meaning it is sustainable and workable.

modest income

Suggests a smaller but acceptable level of profit.

serviceable profit

Implies the profit is enough to keep the business operational.

tolerable gains

Suggests the gains are just about acceptable, potentially implying a lower threshold.

passable earnings

Highlights the earnings are just good enough

workable income

Implies the income is sufficient to support the work

FAQs

How can I use "adequate profit" in a sentence?

You can use "adequate profit" to describe a level of profit that is sufficient or satisfactory for a particular purpose or business. For example, "The company needs to generate an adequate profit to reinvest in research and development".

What's the difference between "adequate profit" and "substantial profit"?

"Adequate profit" refers to a profit that is sufficient or satisfactory, while "substantial profit" implies a significantly large or considerable profit.

What are some alternatives to saying "adequate profit"?

Alternatives to "adequate profit" include "sufficient earnings", "reasonable return", or "satisfactory gains", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "adequate profits" instead of "adequate profit"?

Yes, "adequate profits" is grammatically correct and can be used when referring to multiple instances or sources of profit. However, "adequate profit" is suitable when discussing profit in a general or abstract sense.