barely enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the amount or degree of something is just sufficient, but not more than that. Example: "The funds we raised were barely enough to cover the costs of the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is barely enough money.

The New York Times

"And that's just barely enough".

The New York Times

They were barely enough.

The New York Times

It's barely enough time to accomplish much of anything, really.

Harvard University

It's an unprecedented dataset, yet it's barely enough.

Stanford University

We're making barely enough to get by.

The New York Times

-- barely enough to cover the essentials.

The New York Times

The 600 square feet seemed barely enough for her.

The New York Times

Most earn barely enough to lift them out of poverty.

The Guardian

That's barely enough material for a 60-minute movie.

The Washington Post

However, this is barely enough for any realistic optimism.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely enough", consider the emotional impact. It often conveys a sense of struggle or insufficiency, adding depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "barely enough" when a more precise quantitative term would be more appropriate. If you know the exact shortfall, stating it directly will enhance clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely enough" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig confirms this through its analysis of numerous examples, where it consistently describes the sufficiency of a resource, quantity, or degree. It indicates that something is only just adequate and often implies a sense of scarcity or struggle.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely enough" is a commonly used expression denoting minimal sufficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and functions as an adjectival phrase. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, its primary purpose is to convey a sense of scarcity or the narrow margin by which something meets a requirement. When employing this phrase, consider the emotional undertones it carries, often implying a struggle. While alternatives such as "just sufficient" or "scarcely adequate" exist, each possesses its unique nuance. Avoiding overstatement and maintaining clarity is crucial for effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just sufficient

Emphasizes the adequacy of the amount, highlighting it barely meets the requirement.

scarcely adequate

Highlights the inadequacy and the limited nature of the available resource.

only just enough

Stresses the narrow margin by which the requirement is met.

hardly sufficient

Implies doubt about the adequacy of the quantity or degree.

marginally adequate

Suggests the level of adequacy is at the very lowest acceptable limit.

a minimal amount

Focuses on the small quantity, underlining the lack of abundance.

little more than necessary

Emphasizes the insignificance of the surplus, if any.

almost insufficient

Indicates that the amount is so close to being not enough that it's concerning.

by a whisker

Idiomatic expression that shows how close something came to not meeting a requirement.

touch and go

An idiomatic expression that signifies something is uncertain, usually with a small margin for error.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely enough" to describe situations where something is just sufficient but not abundant. For instance, "The funding was barely enough to complete the project."

What's a more formal alternative to "barely enough"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "just sufficient", "scarcely adequate", or "minimally adequate" instead of "barely enough".

How does "barely enough" differ from "more than enough"?

"Barely enough" indicates a minimal sufficiency, whereas "more than enough" signifies an abundance or surplus. They are antonyms reflecting opposite ends of a spectrum.

Can I use "barely enough" to describe time?

Yes, "barely enough" can be used to describe time, indicating a very limited timeframe. For example, "There was "hardly any time" to prepare for the presentation."