complement the insufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complement the insufficient" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to complete or add to something that is not enough or lacking in some way. Example: "We need to find a solution to complement the insufficient funds for this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For the former, the latter could complement their insufficient popularity, while for the latter, the former could hide their radical tendency, lest they become labeled as right-wing extremists (Korsch 2014; Plehwe 2014; Häusler and Roeser 2015: 16 22).3.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

A line (i- PHYB) was chosen that was phenotypically indistinguishable from the phyB-9 mutant (indicating that if there was any leaky PHYB expression in this line, it was insufficient to complement the mutant phenotype; Figures S2A and 2A, untreated).

Current Biology

These results indicate that EBV DNA alone is insufficient to complement the TNM classification, and plasma D-dimer levels represent a complementary marker to EBV DNA leves for the prediction of NPC patient prognosis.

BMC Cancer

Though genetic distance does not equate physical distance, the pattern seen here in spruce indicates that genetic maps alone that would include most of the gene complement will be insufficient to anchor a significant portion of physical scaffolds, especially if these are small.

BMC Biology

A total of 45 hospitals (78.9% of invited institutions) responded to the questionnaire; 60% indicated that they faced periods of overcrowding when available bed complement was insufficient to cope with hospital admissions and 62% reported difficulties in isolating patients with MROs due to lack of available beds.

Journal of Hospital Infection

Finally, we show why INES appears to be insufficient for a global communication, and we suggest to complement the INES rating with additional information in parallel.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

With the sudden influx of 15 patients in one day after the 2002 Bali bomb blast, the usual staff complement of the Burns Centre was insufficient to manage the situation.

Critical Care

As a complement, the E.U.

The New York Times

—Slacks that complement the jacket.

Forbes

His gestures seem to complement the sounds.

Huffington Post

Multicultural illustrations complement the texts.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "complement the insufficient", ensure that what you are adding genuinely makes up for the deficiency, rather than merely adding to it without addressing the core inadequacy.

Common error

Avoid using "complement the insufficient" when the intention is to replace the insufficient element entirely. "Complement" implies addition and completion, not substitution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complement the insufficient" acts as a verb phrase, where "complement" functions as the verb and "the insufficient" acts as the object. It indicates an action taken to address a lack or deficiency, aiming to complete or enhance it. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "complement the insufficient" is grammatically correct but has rare usage, as demonstrated by the Ludwig AI. It's intended to convey the act of adding something to remedy a deficiency. Although there are no real-world examples in the provided data, related phrases can convey similar meanings like "augment the inadequate", "supplement the deficient" or "bolster the lacking". When using it, ensure you are genuinely making up for the insufficiency and not just adding to it. While versatile, it is advisable to consider if more specific alternatives might better suit your intended meaning. The phrase is suited for a neutral to formal context, and the lack of real world examples suggests a relatively infrequent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

augment the inadequate

Replaces "complement" with "augment" and "insufficient" with "inadequate", both changes maintain the core meaning of supplementing a deficiency.

supplement the deficient

Substitutes "complement" with "supplement" and "insufficient" with "deficient", emphasizing the act of adding to what is lacking.

bolster the lacking

Uses "bolster" instead of "complement" and "lacking" for "insufficient", indicating to reinforce or support what is missing.

enhance what's inadequate

Rephrases to focus on enhancing, using "what's inadequate" to represent the insufficient element.

make up for the shortfall

Expresses the idea of compensating for a deficit, shifting the focus from complementing to compensating.

fill the void

Emphasizes addressing an absence or gap, a more figurative take on supplementing insufficiency.

address the limitations

Shifts the focus to addressing the limitations, suggesting a more proactive approach.

improve the deficiencies

Focuses on improving existing deficiencies, implying a more direct approach to rectification.

counteract the inadequacies

Highlights the act of counteracting or neutralizing the inadequacies, suggesting an opposing force.

offset the deficit

Implies balancing or neutralizing a deficit, suggesting an equalizing action.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "complement the insufficient" in a sentence?

Use "complement the insufficient" when you want to describe adding something to make up for a deficiency. For example, "Additional training will "complement the insufficient" experience of the new recruits."

What are some alternatives to "complement the insufficient"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "augment the inadequate", "supplement the deficient", or "bolster the lacking".

Is "complement the insufficient" always the best choice, or are there situations where another phrase is more appropriate?

While "complement the insufficient" is grammatically correct, it might not always be the most precise choice. If you're aiming to completely remedy a deficiency, consider phrases like "rectify the deficiency" or "eliminate the shortfall".

What is the difference between "complement the insufficient" and "supplement the insufficient"?

While both phrases suggest adding to something lacking, "complement" often implies enhancing or completing, whereas "supplement" simply means adding extra. The best choice depends on whether you're aiming to enhance or just add quantity.