enough even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enough even" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize that something is sufficient to the point of being surprising or unexpected. Example: "She was enough even to impress the toughest critics with her performance."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Two minutes is enough, even the girls".

The New York Times - Sports

Often enough, even against Big Ten teams.

The New York Times

That was cheap enough, even for him.

The Guardian - Sport

Simple enough — even a bit glib.

The New Yorker

Too much is never enough, even in coaching.

The New York Times

That would be complicated enough, even without two additional factors.

The New York Times - Arts

That may not be enough even to pay the lawyers.

The Economist

It would be implausible enough even before the technical obstacles.

Independent

"But solid isn't good enough, even in a tough economy.

The New York Times

This is healthy enough, even by East Asia's robust standards.

The Economist

His story was unbelievable enough, even before that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enough even", ensure that the context clarifies what standard is being met or exceeded. Lack of clarity can lead to ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "enough even" excessively in formal writing, as it can sound informal or somewhat clumsy. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "sufficient" or "adequate" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enough even" typically functions as an adverbial modifier, adding emphasis to the adjective or verb it modifies. It indicates that something meets a certain threshold or standard, often with an element of surprise. Ludwig shows various examples where the phrase emphasizes sufficiency despite potential doubts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enough even" is a commonly used phrase to express that something is sufficient or adequate, often with a hint of surprise or unexpectedness. While Ludwig AI considers it acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "sufficient" or "adequate". The phrase appears frequently in news and media sources and can be useful for emphasizing a point. Use it to highlight that something meets expectations, perhaps against the odds.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficient enough

Emphasizes the adequacy of something, adding slight redundancy for emphasis.

adequate even

Highlights the barely satisfactory nature of something, almost surprisingly so.

surprisingly adequate

Focuses on the unexpected nature of something being sufficient.

surprisingly sufficient

Highlights that something meets the requirements in an unexpected way.

ample even

Suggests that something is not only sufficient but also plentiful to an unexpected degree.

more than adequate

Implies a level of sufficiency exceeding expectations.

just enough

Underscores the minimal level of sufficiency.

serviceable even

Suggests something is functional to an acceptable degree, perhaps against expectations.

barely sufficient

Highlights the minimal nature of something being sufficient.

passable even

Indicates something is just good enough to be accepted, possibly surprisingly so.

FAQs

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

Use "enough even" to express that something meets a certain threshold, sometimes surprisingly. For example, "The basic model was powerful enough even for demanding tasks."

What are some alternatives to "enough even"?

You can use phrases like "sufficient enough", "surprisingly adequate", or "more than adequate" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "enough even" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "enough even" might sound less formal. In professional or academic contexts, consider using more polished alternatives such as "sufficient" or "adequate".

What does "enough even" imply about expectations?

"Enough even" often suggests that something meets a certain standard despite lower initial expectations. It highlights a degree of adequacy that might be considered unexpected.