close to adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly sufficient or satisfactory, but not quite there. Example: "The results of the experiment were close to adequate, but further adjustments are needed for optimal performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The current government, with no experience in holding an authentic election, has invited more than 150 observers to watch Sunday's vote, although the invitations went out only recently, not allowing for anything close to adequate preparation.

The New York Times

The votes this week on the Security Council and the votes on Capitol Hill come despite deep continuing divisions and recriminations over whether the American-led war was necessary and whether the American plan for the postwar peace is yet close to adequate.

The New York Times

Clearly, not even close to adequate.

TechCrunch

It's hard to make an argument for the success of women in hero films when they're not really given anything close to adequate representation.

Huffington Post

It is simply unfair to send some children to good quality private schools for $25,000 or more and then maintain that $7,000 -- California's average per-pupil spending -- is anywhere close to adequate to educate the rest.

Huffington Post

The US has not spent anything close to adequate efforts to build a strong and functional Iraqi military, and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's policies gave the fragile military he received from the Americans a final push into the abyss.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

And the stimulus would have been a lot closer to adequate if more of it had consisted of infrastructure spending rather than tax cuts.

The New York Times

Sadly, today's fine-print corporate disclaimers do not even come close to being adequate, and proper disclosure is unlikely to come without government action.

The New York Times - Tech

But while the state funding formula has been manifestly unfair to New York City schoolkids, the truth is that both the state and the city have refused for decades to provide the school system with anything close to an adequate level of funding.

The New York Times

Over the course of our conversation, it became clear the adjective "amazing" wasn't close to being adequate to describe Mirqueya Guzman.

Huffington Post

The government is also not doing anywhere close to an adequate job of monitoring the use of electronic health records (EHRs), even though a big chunk of money from the economic stimulus bill -- some $30 billion -- is being doled out to help doctors and hospitals pay for the technology to use EHRs.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to adequate", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard or requirement is being approached. Provide specific details about how the subject falls short or what further steps are needed to achieve full adequacy.

Common error

Avoid using "close to adequate" when the subject is clearly insufficient. This phrase implies nearness to a standard, so using it for something far from meeting requirements can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to adequate" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something is almost sufficient but not entirely so. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to adequate" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe something that is nearly sufficient but not quite there, implying a need for further refinement. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for various types of writing. While "close to adequate" suggests nearness to a standard, remember to provide context for what is being approached and avoid overstating sufficiency. Alternatives like "almost sufficient" and "nearly enough" can provide similar nuances, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost sufficient

Indicates nearness to sufficiency but not quite reaching it.

nearly enough

Suggests a quantity or degree that is just below what is needed.

approaching adequacy

Emphasizes the process of becoming adequate, rather than the current state.

bordering on sufficient

Implies that something is almost, but not quite, sufficient.

verging on acceptable

Highlights that the thing is only just becoming acceptable.

not far from satisfactory

Indicates the state isn't very different from reaching a satisfactory level.

close to being acceptable

Focuses on the state almost achieving acceptability.

within reach of sufficiency

Suggests an imminent or achievable sufficiency.

nearing the mark

Indicates progressing toward a desired goal or standard.

virtually adequate

Implies being nearly adequate without truly being so.

FAQs

How can I use "close to adequate" in a sentence?

Use "close to adequate" to describe something that almost meets a required standard or level, but isn't quite there yet. For example, "The funding was "almost sufficient", but still "close to adequate" to cover all the expenses."

What are some alternatives to "close to adequate"?

You can use alternatives like ""almost sufficient"", "nearly enough", or "approaching adequacy" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "adequate" or "close to adequate"?

Use "adequate" when something fully meets the requirements. Use ""close to adequate"" when something is near the standard, but doesn't completely fulfill it. The choice depends on the degree to which the requirements are met.

What's the difference between ""close to adequate"" and "sufficient"?

"Close to adequate" suggests something is nearing the necessary level but hasn't fully reached it, implying a need for further improvement. "Sufficient" means something fully meets the requirements and is enough for the purpose.