carefully enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "carefully enough" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is done with enough care or caution. It can also be used to suggest that more care may be needed. Example: The surgeon performed the operation carefully enough to ensure the patient's safety. In this sentence, "carefully enough" is used to indicate that the surgeon's level of caution was sufficient for the task at hand. However, the phrase could also be used like this: The dishes were washed carefully enough, but there were still some spots left. Here, "carefully enough" suggests that while the dishes were washed with some care, it may not have been enough to remove all the spots.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

You can never look carefully enough.

The New York Times

Maybe I didn't think it through carefully enough.

The Guardian - Books

Did they search carefully enough?" Support the troops!

The New York Times

If you look carefully enough, the clues are there.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They clearly did not check carefully enough," he said.

The New York Times

Skeptics say that the new fairs did not screen galleries carefully enough, leading to sketchy quality.

The New York Times

"If you strain your neck and look carefully enough, to the west you can see Alaska".

The New York Times

I think they had some preconceived notions and did not listen to the testimony carefully enough.

The New Yorker

Had he looked down his nose carefully enough he would have seen them all around him.

The Economist

But there seemed to be something there if one looked carefully enough.

The New York Times

The Fifth Circuit had not examined UT's admissions policy carefully enough, the justices said.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "carefully enough" when you want to emphasize that an action was performed with sufficient attention to detail, but without necessarily implying perfection or excess.

Common error

Avoid using "carefully enough" when you intend to convey perfection or flawlessness. This phrase inherently suggests that the level of care was adequate, but not necessarily exceptional. If perfection is the goal, consider alternatives like "with utmost precision" or "flawlessly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "carefully enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the extent or degree to which an action is performed with care. It indicates that the action is carried out with sufficient attention to detail or precision to achieve a desired outcome. Ludwig's examples show the phrase being used in contexts where evaluation or scrutiny is involved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "carefully enough" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action has been performed with a sufficient level of care or attention, as supported by Ludwig. It's frequently found in News & Media contexts and serves to communicate that the level of care was adequate but doesn't necessarily imply perfection. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Remember to use it when conveying adequacy, and consider related phrases like "with sufficient care" or "thoroughly enough" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with sufficient care

Focuses on the adequacy of the care provided, rather than the manner.

with adequate diligence

Highlights the thoroughness and persistence applied.

sufficiently cautiously

Emphasizes the prudence and wariness involved.

thoroughly enough

Focuses on the completeness and detail of the action.

with due attention

Highlights the appropriate level of focus given.

to a sufficient degree of care

Formal rephrasing, emphasizing the required level of care.

with the necessary precision

Emphasizes accuracy and exactness in the action.

as cautiously as needed

Focuses on avoiding risk and potential problems.

to the required standard of care

Highlights that a certain standard has been met.

giving it the needed attention

Emphasizes that appropriate focus was given to something.

FAQs

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

You can use "carefully enough" to indicate that an action was performed with a sufficient level of care, such as: "Did you examine the documents "carefully enough" before signing them?"

What are some alternatives to "carefully enough"?

Depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, you could use alternatives such as "with sufficient care", "with adequate diligence", or "thoroughly enough".

Is it correct to say "enough carefully" instead of "carefully enough"?

No, the correct word order is "carefully enough". Adverbs like "carefully" typically precede "enough" in this type of construction.

What's the difference between "carefully enough" and "very carefully"?

"Carefully enough" implies a sufficient level of care for a specific purpose or requirement, while "very carefully" simply emphasizes a high degree of caution or attention, without necessarily implying sufficiency. You might check something "very carefully" but not "carefully enough" to find a subtle error.