almost sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that is close to being enough or sufficient to meet the required criteria, but not quite. For example: "The amount of money I have saved up is almost sufficient to afford the new car I want."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"The lessees instead bought insurance almost sufficient to rebuild without regard to any possible loss of rental income".

The New York Times

More important, I had found a two-year sublet in a rent-stabilized building, and the fact that I had done so through a Columbia connection seemed almost sufficient justification for the money I'd spent on grad school.

The New Yorker

Some of this is the result of immigration and rising longevity but, according to David Coleman, a demographer at Oxford University, the recovery is also the result of older women having more children "almost sufficient to compensate for the sharply reduced birth rates of younger women".

The Economist

Hence, using one of them as the input is almost sufficient for an ANN to extract the desired pattern.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

We should point out that Tanahashi's argument in [4] is almost sufficient to deduce the former from the latter.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Due to high operating speeds, the available visibility distances to these locations were less than the sight distance needed to decide and complete the maneuver they were almost sufficient at driving speeds within the speed limit [12].

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The image resolution needs to balance the amount of detail required and the size of the image files, a resolution of 1200 2400 dpi is almost always sufficient and substantially less (300 600 dpi) is sufficient for samples with clear ring boundaries.

Dendrochronologia

Even a single such read is almost always sufficient to merit the validation a variant, provided that sufficient control samples are used.

F1000Research

All this having been said, the really worrying aspect is that while most of those who know the Gabba well saw a pitch that demanded 400 runs in the first innings as a minimum, Australia's 295 almost proved sufficient on its own to have given them a win.

The Guardian - Sport

The maximum uplift of not more than 5 mm clarifies that the tower foundation almost has sufficient structural loading to minimize the uplift.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

Scott Allen says that judges have on occasion issued orders for a specific doctor to perform a specific procedure, but adds, "There is almost always sufficient pushback from the medical community to persuade the legal system to back down.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost sufficient", consider whether adding a specific qualifier (e.g., "almost sufficient for our needs", "almost sufficient to cover the costs") provides more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost sufficient" when the amount is clearly inadequate. Ensure that it genuinely approaches the required level, or use a different phrase that indicates greater shortfall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost sufficient" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that something is close to being adequate or enough, but not quite. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a state of near adequacy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost sufficient" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that indicates something is nearing adequacy. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's suitable for describing situations where a requirement is nearly met. It appears frequently in scientific and news contexts and carries a neutral tone, fitting diverse writing styles. While useful, be mindful of overstating near sufficiency when there's a clear inadequacy. Consider the nuanced alternatives like "nearly enough" or "virtually adequate" to better convey the specific degree of approximation. Remember that being specific with qualifiers will enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly enough

Focuses on the quantity aspect, suggesting it's close to the required amount.

virtually adequate

Implies that it's practically adequate but might have minor shortcomings.

close to adequate

Emphasizes the proximity to meeting the required standard.

just about enough

Highlights that it barely meets the requirement, possibly with a sense of relief.

practically sufficient

Suggests sufficiency in a practical sense, although it might not be perfect.

borderline adequate

Indicates a situation where the sufficiency is on the edge of being acceptable.

scarcely adequate

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which it meets the requirements.

barely adequate

Highlights the minimal level of adequacy achieved.

almost satisfactory

Shifts the focus to the level of satisfaction, suggesting it's close to being satisfactory.

approaching sufficiency

Indicates a trend towards being sufficient, implying it might not be there yet.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost sufficient" to describe something that nearly meets a requirement or standard, such as "The funding was "almost sufficient" to complete the project".

What are some alternatives to saying "almost sufficient"?

Alternatives include "nearly enough", "virtually adequate", or "close to adequate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Use "almost sufficient" when something falls slightly short of being completely adequate. Use "sufficient" when it fully meets the requirement. The choice depends on the degree of adequacy you want to express.

What's the difference between "almost sufficient" and "barely sufficient"?

"Almost sufficient" suggests a close proximity to being adequate, while "barely sufficient" indicates that something only just meets the minimum requirements and may not be fully satisfactory.