efficient enough

USAGE SUMMARY

"efficient enough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a particular thing or activity is sufficient in regards to efficiency. For example: "We think that this method of data analysis is efficient enough for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The market isn't efficient enough for that.

The New York Times

While Beckett did not dominate, he was efficient enough.

The New York Times - Sports

Can greenhouse crop production become efficient enough to produce food for the masses?

Cornell University

It is also efficient enough to exclude smooth sounds such as music or human speech.

Cornell University

"The attacks are efficient enough to be practical," they wrote in the paper.

The New York Times

The technology has to be efficient enough, however, to make whatever is built there affordable.

The New York Times

But thermoelectric materials have not been efficient enough to move beyond niche applications.

MIT Technology Review

Retrieval algorithms should be efficient enough to deliver profiles in real-time without compromising accuracy.

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

The hybrid method was efficient enough for use in 3D blood vessel reconstruction.

Computers & Graphics

At present, however, the calculation of kick tolerance in deepwater drilling is not efficient enough.

Natural Gas Industry B

The model is computationally efficient enough to allow use in routine analysis and design tasks.

Renewable Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "efficient enough", clearly define the criteria for efficiency to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "the process is efficient enough", specify "the process is efficient enough to meet the deadline".

Common error

Avoid using "efficient enough" without a clear comparison or benchmark. Saying "this technology is efficient enough" without specifying what it's efficient for can make the statement vague and unconvincing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "efficient enough" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier specifying that something possesses a level of efficiency that meets a certain requirement or threshold. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. Ludwig's examples show it modifying nouns like "technology", "algorithms", and "methods".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "efficient enough" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates a satisfactory level of efficiency for a given purpose. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is appropriate for a wide range of contexts, especially in News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it signifies adequacy rather than exceptional performance, its meaning is clear and its usage is widespread. To avoid ambiguity, it's best practice to specify the context for which something is "efficient enough". Overall, this phrase is a reliable and effective way to express sufficiency in terms of efficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently efficient

Replaces "enough" with its synonym "sufficiently", slightly altering the phrasing while retaining the core meaning.

effective enough

Focuses on achieving the desired outcome, even if not in the most efficient way.

adequately efficient

Substitutes "efficient" with "adequate", shifting the focus to meeting a minimum requirement rather than exceeding it.

competently efficient

Highlights the skill or ability to achieve a certain level of efficiency.

reasonably efficient

Indicates a level of efficiency that is acceptable or justifiable in a given situation, but not necessarily optimal.

efficient to a satisfactory degree

Rephrases the concept with a more formal and descriptive construction.

functional enough

Implies that something works well enough for its intended purpose, potentially prioritizing function over optimal efficiency.

passably efficient

Emphasizes a level of efficiency that is barely acceptable or adequate.

just efficient enough

Highlights that something reaches minimum treshold in terms of efficiency.

serviceable enough

Shifts the focus from strict efficiency to practical usability and adequacy.

FAQs

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

You can use "efficient enough" to describe a process, system, or technology that meets the minimum requirements for a specific task or goal. For example, "The solar panels are "efficient enough" to power the entire house".

What are some alternatives to saying "efficient enough"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently efficient", "adequately efficient", or "effective enough" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always positive to say something is "efficient enough"?

Not necessarily. Saying something is "efficient enough" can sometimes imply that it's just barely meeting the required standards, rather than being exceptionally efficient. The connotation depends heavily on the context.

What is the difference between "efficient enough" and "very efficient"?

"Very efficient" indicates a high degree of efficiency, exceeding expectations. "Efficient enough", on the other hand, simply means that the system or process meets the minimum requirements for efficiency, without necessarily being outstanding.