earnestly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earnestly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is sincere or serious to a sufficient degree in a particular context. Example: "She was trying to convince her boss of her commitment to the project, but he didn't believe her earnestly enough."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Did I not reach back soon or earnestly enough for him?

The New York Times - Magazine

He spoke first, followed by Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, who spoke earnestly enough, and then Clinton.

The New Yorker

To believe it strongly and earnestly enough so that, by some alchemy of the soul, it happened: you looked into a dying person's eyes and saw Christ looking back.

The New Yorker

It begins earnestly enough.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She looks deep into my eyes and sings earnestly: "I've had enough, this is my prayer / That I'll die livin' just as free as my hair".

The Guardian

Ryan's words come in an unending stream spoken earnestly, and confusingly, to enough television cameras that some listeners are persuaded that he has something thoughtful to say, and that they should ignore the disturbing single-mindedness.

The New Yorker

Perhaps that is reason enough to consider earnestly the question at the heart of those bets: How, exactly, could Floyd Mayweather lose?

The New Yorker

As a high school student during the psychedelic Sixties, he earnestly asked classmates to focus long enough to become Young Republicans.

The New York Times

Composers tend to heap music earnestly on a libretto and, when enough seems to have been produced, serve up the whole mess eagerly.

The New York Times - Arts

The world can never have enough baby-voiced blondes singing earnestly about shitty boyfriends and (possible) cocaine binges over bouncy electro beats.

Vice

Others try earnestly to present proof that they are infirm enough to deserve the scarce doses of vaccine.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earnestly enough" when you want to emphasize that someone's sincerity or effort is adequate for a particular situation. It suggests a level of commitment that meets or exceeds expectations.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "earnestly enough" guarantees success or a positive outcome. While sincerity is important, it doesn't always equate to competence or achieving the desired result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earnestly enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the extent or degree to which an action is performed with earnestness. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase typically modifies verbs to express that an action is carried out with sufficient sincerity or seriousness to achieve a specific purpose or meet a certain expectation. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage of this phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Earnestly enough" is an adverbial phrase used to express that an action is performed with sufficient sincerity or effort. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Related phrases include "sufficiently sincere" and "adequately serious". When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants a level of commitment that meets or exceeds expectations, but remember that sincerity alone does not guarantee success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently sincere

Focuses on the level of sincerity being adequate.

genuinely sufficient

Highlights the authenticity and adequacy of the effort.

adequately serious

Emphasizes that the level of seriousness is appropriate.

with ample sincerity

Stresses the abundance of sincerity.

with enough conviction

Highlights the strength of belief or persuasion.

to a satisfactory degree of earnestness

Rephrases using a more formal tone, specifying the degree of earnestness.

sufficiently dedicated

Emphasizes commitment and devotion to a cause or task.

earnestly to the required extent

Focuses on meeting a certain requirement with earnestness.

with the necessary zeal

Highlights the enthusiasm and passion involved.

appropriately fervent

Indicates that the level of fervor or passion is suitable.

FAQs

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

You can use "earnestly enough" to describe whether someone's effort or sincerity is sufficient for a given situation. For example, "Did I not reach back soon or "earnestly enough" for him?"

What are some alternatives to "earnestly enough"?

Consider using phrases like "sufficiently sincere", "adequately serious", or "with enough conviction" as alternatives to "earnestly enough", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "earnestly enough" grammatically correct?

Yes, "earnestly enough" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a sufficient degree of earnestness.

What does "earnestly enough" imply about the action being described?

"Earnestly enough" implies that the action is performed with a level of sincerity and commitment that is adequate or satisfactory for the given context. It suggests that the effort put forth meets a certain required standard.