cannot afford enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot afford enough" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when stating that someone does not have enough money or resources to obtain something they need or want. Example: John cannot afford enough groceries to feed his family for the week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Research is clear that children living in households that cannot afford enough nutritious food are more likely to suffer health and development problems, including more hospitalizations, compared with children of similarly low-incomes who were not "food insecure".

Huffington Post

As a result, say MPs, they cannot afford enough staff.

The Economist

Waste reduces food security for those who cannot afford enough to eat.

The Guardian

In the school they have purged the textbooks of all references to the Assads, but complain that they cannot afford enough of them.

The Economist

"Lack of food is threatening our lives because a number of us cannot afford enough, yet you cannot take antiretrovirals without taking in some food," she says.

The Guardian

In indigenous areas, 85% of people cannot afford enough calories for an adequate diet even as the champagne flows in the capital's casinos.And the "Latin Singapore" remains deeply un-Singaporean in two more ways.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Still, some 50 million Americans live in households that cannot consistently afford enough food, even with the food-stamps program, now formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The New York Times

But tell that to a mother who cannot grow or afford enough to feed her children.

Huffington Post

However, in some applications, the heat source cannot afford an enough heating area for thermal contact.

Energy Conversion and Management

The region says it cannot afford to buy enough coal and high-priced oil for its needs.

The New York Times

But the state is too puny in many ways: it is unable to enforce contracts and cannot afford to spend enough on infrastructure.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot afford enough", ensure the context clearly states what is not being afforded and why. For example, "The family cannot afford enough nutritious food due to job loss" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using ambiguous pronouns when using "cannot afford enough". Instead of saying "They cannot afford enough", specify who "they" refers to, such as "The refugees cannot afford enough food".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot afford enough" functions as a declarative statement expressing an inability to acquire a sufficient quantity of something due to financial limitations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot afford enough" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression indicating a lack of sufficient resources to acquire something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Primarily found in contexts related to News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business, it serves to convey limitations, especially in discussions about socioeconomic issues. Alternative phrases include "unable to afford sufficient" and "lacking the means for adequate". When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is not being afforded and avoiding ambiguous pronouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to afford sufficient

Replaces "cannot" with "unable to" and "enough" with "sufficient", slightly more formal.

lacking the means for adequate

Uses a different structure focusing on the "lacking" aspect rather than the ability to afford.

do not have the resources for adequate

Focuses on the lack of resources rather than the act of affording.

insufficient funds for adequate

More concise, focusing on the funds as the limiting factor.

cannot manage adequate

Replaces "afford" with "manage", shifting the focus to the ability to handle the cost.

priced out of adequate

Highlights the effect of high prices making something unaffordable.

cannot stretch to adequate

Emphasizes the limit of available funds or resources.

unable to meet adequate

Focuses on the inability to meet the financial demand.

beyond one's financial reach for adequate

Emphasizes the distance between one's finances and the cost.

struggling to cover adequate

Highlights the difficulty in affording something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "cannot afford enough" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "unable to afford sufficient", "lacking the means for adequate", or "do not have the resources for adequate depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "cannot afford enough" and "cannot afford"?

"Cannot afford" implies a complete inability to pay, while "cannot afford enough" suggests a partial inability, where some is affordable but not a sufficient amount. For example: "I cannot afford a car" vs "I "cannot afford enough gas"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "cannot afford enough"?

Yes, "cannot afford enough" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express the inability to purchase a sufficient quantity of something.

In what contexts is "cannot afford enough" most often used?

This phrase is frequently used in discussions about poverty, resource scarcity, and economic constraints, particularly in contexts related to food, healthcare, and education. You can find examples from "News & Media", Science and Formal & Business contexts.