an adequate school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an adequate school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a school that meets the necessary standards or requirements, but may not exceed them. Example: "The district is working to ensure that every child has access to an adequate school that provides basic educational resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"People are not thrilled with an adequate school system," he said.

The New York Times

"It is not in the best interests of pupils to remain in an adequate school".

Independent

It said: "The pace of reform has been high and lacks a long-term vision, an adequate school improvement infrastructure and a clear implementation strategy all stakeholders share".

BBC

Young physicians cannot imagine professional life in a rural area for different reasons [ 5- 7] i.e. the greater challenge to manage family responsibilities [ 7] including child care as well as finding an adequate school or the possibilities of leisure activities.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In New York, and later in Washington, she was an effective champion of adequate school funding and decent standards for classroom teachers.

The New York Times

- Where adequate school space is an issue, other community venues and/or children's homes should be considered as potential places for children to meet.

Unicef

While there has been tremendous suburban housing development, pitched primarily to new members of the middle class, the urban areas themselves lack satisfactory housing, as well as a dependable supply of water and adequate school and health facilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But an adequate high school education should be of sufficient quality to make graduates competitive for a wide range of meaningful jobs.

The New York Times

In recommending community college as an option for bright high-schoolers eager to get a head start, for example, it fails to recognize the degree to which many community colleges have become way stations of remediation for students who didn't get an adequate high school education to begin with.

The New York Times

The issue of adequate school funding was revisited lately, when a court-appointed panel called for an increase in state aid to schools in New York City.

The New York Times

Describing the sprawling Co-Op City development in the Bronx, he said that 100,000 units translated into seven Co-Op cities, and told the admiring lunch audience in a private club on Gramercy Park that Queens didn't have adequate school space for 27,000 students.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. Is it a minimum standard, or something acceptable? The word 'adequate' can change meaning slightly depending on the focus.

Common error

Avoid using "an adequate school" when you mean a high-quality or exceptional school. "Adequate" implies meeting minimum standards, so using it to describe a top-tier institution would be inaccurate and misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an adequate school" functions as a noun phrase, where 'an' is an indefinite article, 'adequate' is an adjective modifying the noun 'school'. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an adequate school" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a school meeting basic requirements. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears across various contexts, including news, formal documents, and scientific publications. While not exceptionally frequent, its meaning is consistent: it refers to a school that is satisfactory without being exceptional. Consider alternative phrases like "a satisfactory school" or "a sufficient school" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a satisfactory school

Replaces "adequate" with "satisfactory", implying a similar level of acceptability.

a sufficient school

Substitutes "adequate" with "sufficient", indicating that the school meets the basic requirements.

a decent school

Replaces "adequate" with "decent", suggesting a school that is reasonably good.

a competent school

Competent focuses on skill and knowledge level.

a suitable school

Suitable focuses on something that is fit for purpose.

a passable school

Uses "passable" instead of "adequate", suggesting a school that barely meets the minimum standards.

a standard school

Changes "adequate" to "standard", indicating a school that meets the average requirements.

a functional school

Uses "functional" instead of "adequate", implying a school that operates effectively.

a tolerable school

Replaces "adequate" with "tolerable", implying a less than ideal but acceptable situation.

a minimally acceptable school

Replaces adequate with "minimally acceptable", this option focuses in the lower range of meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "an adequate school" in a sentence?

You can use "an adequate school" to describe a school that meets the minimum requirements for education. For example, "The government's goal is to provide every child with "an adequate school"."

What are some alternatives to "an adequate school"?

Some alternatives include "a satisfactory school", "a sufficient school", or "a decent school", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "an adequate school" or "a adequate school"?

"An adequate school" is correct. The article "an" is used because "adequate" begins with a vowel sound.

What is the difference between "an adequate school" and "an excellent school"?

"An adequate school" meets the basic requirements and standards, while "an excellent school" exceeds expectations and provides a superior educational experience.