be sufficient to keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be sufficient to keep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether something meets a necessary standard or requirement to maintain a certain condition or state. Example: "The funds raised will be sufficient to keep the project running for another year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We just hoped the two large steps would be sufficient to keep the water out.

The Guardian

Still, such reasoning may not be sufficient to keep arts education alive in public schools.

The New York Times - Arts

That should be sufficient to keep City Hall in Republican hands for another seventeen years.

The New Yorker

Maybe that deterrent will be sufficient to keep Google providing its most heavily used products.

The Economist

Even more government aid, it added, "may not be sufficient to keep us in a solvent condition".

The New York Times

But the amount, about 89 billion euros, will not necessarily be sufficient to keep the money flowing to depositors.

The New York Times

Krivacs, though, told Woodward the offer wouldn't be sufficient to keep Mattingly from tomorrow's appointment with the arbitrator.

The New York Times - Sports

There are concerns that promised work on smaller offshore patrol vehicles will not be sufficient to keep the yards' order books full and maintain the workforce.

The Guardian

"The strength in trade will dampen the domestic downturn — and may even be sufficient to keep the U.S. out of recession".

The New York Times

He said that it is estimated that 120 pounds of pure algae would be sufficient to keep a man alive on the trip to Mars.

The New Yorker

It ought to be sufficient to keep players from bidding crazily but not so much that they can lose more than they can afford.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be sufficient to keep", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is providing the sufficiency and what state or condition is being maintained. For example, "The budget will be sufficient to keep the project running smoothly."

Common error

Avoid using "be sufficient to keep" when there's a high degree of uncertainty about the outcome. Instead of saying "The initial investment will be sufficient to keep the company afloat", consider a more cautious statement like "The initial investment is intended to help keep the company afloat".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be sufficient to keep" functions as a descriptor indicating adequacy for maintaining a certain state or condition. Ludwig's examples highlight its usage across diverse contexts, from financial solvency to physical well-being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be sufficient to keep" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates something is adequate to maintain a particular state or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently across various sources, including news media, scientific publications, and academic texts. The phrase conveys a sense of assurance or expectation of stability and is appropriate for both neutral and somewhat formal contexts. To ensure correct usage, avoid redundancy and clearly state what provides the sufficiency and what is being maintained.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be adequate to maintain

Focuses on maintaining a state, emphasizing the quality of being good enough.

be enough to sustain

Highlights the ability to support or uphold something over time.

be capable of preserving

Emphasizes the preservation aspect, indicating an ability to prevent degradation or loss.

be able to continue

Stresses the continuation aspect, focusing on the ability to proceed without interruption.

be ample to conserve

Focuses on having more than enough to maintain something.

suffice to preserve

Highlights that something is just enough for the purpose of preservation.

be equal to safeguarding

Stresses the protective aspect, highlighting the ability to ensure safety.

serve to uphold

Focuses on supporting or maintaining a principle or decision.

be instrumental in securing

Highlights the importance of securing something's future.

be conducive to protecting

Emphasizes the contribution of something to providing protection.

FAQs

How can I use "be sufficient to keep" in a sentence?

You can use "be sufficient to keep" to describe something that is adequate to maintain a certain condition. For example, "The funding should "be sufficient to keep" the project going", or "The food supply will "be sufficient to keep" us alive until rescue arrives".

What is a more formal way to say "be sufficient to keep"?

More formal alternatives include "be adequate to maintain" or "be ample to sustain". These options often fit better in professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "be sufficient enough to keep"?

Saying "be sufficient enough to keep" is redundant because "sufficient" already implies "enough". It's best to stick with just ""be sufficient to keep"".

What's the difference between "be sufficient to keep" and "be enough to keep"?

While both phrases are similar, ""be sufficient to keep"" carries a slightly more formal tone than "be enough to keep". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.