better enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "better enough" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in informal contexts to imply that something is sufficiently improved, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "I thought the changes would make the product better enough to compete, but it still fell short."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Because they're not better enough".

The New York Times

I was doing all of the treatments but I never got better enough to have a life.

Independent

"Clearly he was feeling better," Better enough to host a dance party at Paisley Park that evening.

The Guardian - Music

It's not a regional issue, or even really a partisan issue, but there is a real lack of patience in the country that the president promised that things would get better – and things haven't got better enough.

The Guardian - Opinion

Until recently, cryo-EM had struggled to match the performance of crystallography, which typically offers a resolution of 2 Å or better, enough to show the atomic detail of a small molecule in an active site.

Nature

And yet, although Mary Rose is thrilled to be a pioneer for marriage equality, she acerbically points out that she "helped change the world to the point where it got better enough for her to be here now at her own kitchen table with her own child, legally married to the woman she loves, feeling like a trapped 1950s housewife".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

They would get to know each other better soon enough.

The Washington Post

Things are not getting better fast enough and they are not getting better for everyone".

The Guardian - Business

"The world is not getting better fast enough, and it's not getting better for everyone".

The New York Times

"We just better have enough staff to process all the checks".

The New York Times - Magazine

You? Sad woman clutching the Feel Better balloon!? Enough of the boo-hoo about your dead kid.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider using more common alternatives like "sufficiently better" or "adequately improved" instead of "better enough".

Common error

Avoid using "better enough" in formal contexts; it can sound awkward or informal. Instead, opt for more precise and widely accepted phrases such as "sufficiently improved" or "adequately better".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something is improved. Ludwig examples show it describing a state or condition that has reached a satisfactory level. However, it is considered non-standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "better enough" is understandable, it's not considered standard English. Ludwig examples reveal it appears across varied contexts, from news to wikis, but its use is infrequent. As Ludwig AI points out, consider opting for more conventional alternatives like "sufficiently better" or "adequately improved", especially in formal writing. The phrase's informal tone and potential for ambiguity make it less suitable for professional or academic contexts. Ensure your writing is clear and precise by choosing widely accepted alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently improved

Emphasizes the level of improvement reaching a satisfactory point.

improved sufficiently

Focuses on the action of improving and reaching an adequate level.

adequately better

Highlights that the improvement is just meeting the required standard.

satisfactorily better

Suggests the improvement is pleasing and fulfills expectations.

acceptably improved

Focuses on the change meeting a base level of acceptance.

good enough

Indicates a minimal acceptable standard, implying that something just meets requirements.

markedly better

Stresses a significant and clear improvement.

noticeably improved

Highlights that the improvement is easily observed or recognized.

measurably better

Indicates the improvement can be quantified or assessed.

better than necessary

Implies that the improvement exceeds what was strictly required.

FAQs

What does "better enough" mean?

"Better enough" implies something has improved to a satisfactory or acceptable level, though it's not a standard English phrase. It suggests the improvement meets a certain requirement or expectation.

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

While not standard, you might use "better enough" informally, such as, "I thought the changes would make the product "better enough" to compete, but it still fell short."

What are some alternatives to "better enough"?

Consider using more common phrases like "sufficiently better", "adequately improved", or "good enough" for clearer communication.

Is "better enough" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "better enough" isn't a standard or widely accepted phrase. It's more common and grammatically sound to use alternatives like "sufficiently better" or "adequately better".