barely suitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely suitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that meets the minimum requirements or standards, but only just. Example: "The weather was barely suitable for a picnic, with overcast skies and a chilly breeze."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Baku has beaches — it's on a peninsula on the western shore of the Caspian Sea — but the sand is barely suitable for sunbathing, much less for volleyball.

The New Yorker

As a former caddie, I knew how to dress the part and how to act, but my game was barely suitable for a dusty municipal course, let alone one of the more challenging layouts in the Northeast.

The New York Times - Sports

Each log was peeled by hand, carved by chain saw on the Nash brothers' land in Oregon, numbered, trucked in over roads barely suitable for a jeep, then assembled on site without chinking, the caulking used in log construction, like so many Lincoln Logs.

The New York Times - Travel

The parameters were simple: a 200-mile run along the mountainous spine of Wales, from the top of the principality to the bottom, broken into five-day-long sections, with 45,000ft of ascent and descent – on terrain so rough that much of it was barely suitable for scrambling, let alone running – with no defined route apart from a few dozen map references indicating checkpoints.

Independent

In testing the transmitter proved only barely suitable in the air-to-air role, with short detection ranges due to its relatively low power.

Wikipedia

Xinjiang, considered part of the Turkestan region, consists of an amalgamation of deserts, oases, and dry steppe barely suitable for agriculture.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Now they are usually at high school level – or, in the case of George Bush Snr's one effort, barely sixth-grade, ie, suitable for the average 12-year-old.

Independent

In Brussels "to assist" means to be present, not to help; "to control" means to check, rather than to exercise power; "adequate" means appropriate or suitable, rather than (barely) sufficient; and mass nouns are countable, such as advices, informations and aids.

The Economist

"I've barely worked the gel into a suitable consistency and suddenly all these car horns start honking in the streets.

The Guardian - Sport

The rich countries have already built dams in many suitable locations, but Asia, Latin America and Africa have barely started.Good intentions apart, rich-country greens worry about the environment in developing countries because of its knock-on effect for the rest of the world.

The Economist

She claimed that my father was an alcoholic — which wasn't true; he barely drank — and that she could provide a more suitable upbringing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely suitable", ensure the context clearly indicates the marginal nature of the suitability. For example, "The equipment was "barely suitable" for the task, requiring frequent adjustments."

Common error

Avoid using "barely suitable" when something is clearly unsuitable. The phrase implies a minimal level of acceptance, so using it for something entirely wrong is misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely suitable" functions as an evaluative descriptor, modifying a noun to indicate that it possesses only the minimum required qualities. As per Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely suitable" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that meets minimum requirements, as validated by Ludwig. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. The phrase is best used when conveying a sense of minimal adequacy, and writers should avoid using it when describing something entirely unsuitable. Consider alternatives like "marginally adequate" or "scarcely sufficient" to fine-tune the intended meaning. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its application in evaluating the fitness or appropriateness of something for a particular purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally adequate

Changes the wording to emphasize minimal adequacy using different terms.

hardly adequate

Emphasizes inadequacy by using "hardly" instead of "barely".

scarcely sufficient

Replaces "suitable" with "sufficient", highlighting the lack of excess.

minimally acceptable

Focuses on the acceptability aspect, indicating it barely meets the minimum standard.

just about adequate

Uses a more conversational tone to convey borderline adequacy.

only just suitable

Emphasizes the narrow margin of suitability.

virtually unsuitable

While seemingly contradictory, it highlights how close to unsuitable something is.

borderline appropriate

Indicates that something is only just considered appropriate.

almost inappropriate

Shifts the perspective to focus on the near inappropriateness.

tenuously fitting

Highlights the fragile or weak connection to suitability.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely suitable" to describe something that just meets the minimum requirements or standards. For example, "The old car was barely suitable for the long journey".

What can I say instead of "barely suitable"?

Alternatives include "marginally adequate", "hardly adequate", or "scarcely sufficient", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "barely suitable" or "unsuitable"?

"Barely suitable" implies a minimal level of acceptability, while "unsuitable" means something is not acceptable at all. The choice depends on whether the thing in question meets the minimum requirements, however slightly.

What's the difference between "barely suitable" and "perfectly suitable"?

"Barely suitable" indicates that something just meets the requirements, with little room to spare. "Perfectly suitable" on the other hand, indicates an ideal match.