almost adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly sufficient or satisfactory but falls short in some way. Example: "The report was almost adequate, but it lacked the necessary data to support the conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Nokia 'HERE Maps' for iOS almost adequate vs. Maps App in iOS 6," wrote another Twitter user.

The New York Times

The model had a spatial extent of 1050 km (east west) × 550 km (north south), which was almost adequate to cover the Nankai Trough southwest of Japan, where the Philippine Sea plate subducts beneath the Japanese archipelago.

Earth, Planets and Space

But if an almost adequate system of free donation does exist (as, in many countries, it does with blood) then there is a serious possibility of its being undermined.

SEP

However, an increased incidence of congenital malformations also persists with almost adequate glucose values, as assessed by an A1C within two to four times the SD (2).

Diabetes Care

The majority (64%) did not work while a high proportion (51%) perceived that their income was almost adequate for their needs.

BMC Psychiatry

It is then obvious that, although the combined PE is almost adequate, the precision of the new technique is more than three times worse than the reference that it is attempting to replace.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

However, as Henderson and coworkers [ 2] concluded from their observations in panting dogs almost 90 years ago, adequate alveolar ventilation can be achieved at high respiratory rates and very small tidal volumes at about or below the dead space volume.

Critical Care

We can therefore conclude that for small DNA oligomers, DFT, QM/MM and MM methods can all produce almost equally adequate DNA structures, but that QM/MM and MM approaches are more similar to one another than those obtained from DFT alone.

F1000Research

The reason for the failure of these attempts seems to have been in part that the "provisions of the State constitutions are in almost all instances adequate on this subject, and no amendment is likely to be secured". Id.

Cornell University

But because almost everyone gets adequate phosphorus from a wide variety of foods, they said, the higher levels in the organic produce are unlikely to confer any health benefit.

The New York Times - Science

In fact, if bycatch effects are experienced by an entire network of subpopulations, localized mitigation actions on a single subpopulation will almost never be adequate to offset bycatch mortality.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost adequate" when you want to express that something is close to meeting the required standard but still needs improvement or refinement. Be specific about what aspects fall short to provide constructive feedback.

Common error

Avoid using "almost adequate" when the subject is clearly insufficient or severely lacking. Using it in such cases can downplay the severity of the issue and mislead the audience. Consider using phrases like "inadequate" or "deficient" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost adequate" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun with a quality of being close to, but not fully, sufficient. It indicates a state of near adequacy, suggesting a need for slight improvement or adjustment. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment and the example sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost adequate" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival modifier that indicates something is close to being sufficient but not quite. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts, denoting a nuanced assessment of near adequacy. While not as frequent as simpler terms like "adequate", it offers precision in describing situations needing minor improvements. When writing, use it to provide specific feedback and avoid overstating the actual level of sufficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly sufficient

Emphasizes the closeness to meeting a required level or amount.

barely satisfactory

Highlights the minimal level of satisfaction achieved.

just about acceptable

Focuses on the borderline acceptability of something.

marginally adequate

Suggests a slight or narrow margin of adequacy.

scarcely enough

Indicates that something is barely sufficient in quantity or quality.

approaching sufficiency

Highlights the movement towards being sufficient.

not quite up to par

Implies a failure to meet the expected standard.

just making the grade

Suggests a minimal passing standard.

on the verge of adequate

Focuses on the proximity to achieving adequacy.

falling slightly short

Emphasizes the deficit in reaching full adequacy.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost adequate" to describe something that is nearly sufficient but not quite. For example, "The budget was "almost adequate", but we still needed to cut some expenses."

What are some alternatives to "almost adequate"?

Alternatives include "nearly sufficient", "barely satisfactory", or "marginally adequate". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree to which something falls short.

Is it better to say "almost adequate" or "adequate"?

If something fully meets the requirements, use "adequate". If it falls slightly short but is close, use "almost adequate" to accurately reflect the situation. For example, a solution is "almost adequate", but it requires further refinement.

What's the difference between "almost adequate" and "inadequate"?

"Almost adequate" implies that something is close to meeting the requirements, while "inadequate" means it does not meet the requirements at all. "Almost adequate" needs minor changes while "inadequate" means a completely different solution is needed.