enough to

USAGE SUMMARY

"enough to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has an adequate or sufficient capacity to do something. For example: "The evidence collected was enough to prove his guilt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's enough to start.

The New York Times

"Big enough to burst".

The New Yorker

Just enough to survive".

The Guardian

Not enough to notice.

The New York Times

Good enough to hug.

The Economist

"They have enough to do".

The New York Times

I have enough to do".

The New York Times

Reason enough to pull together.

The Economist

That's enough to go ahead".

The New York Times - Science

Almost good enough to eat.

Independent

That's important enough to know.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enough to", verify that the subject performing the action is clearly defined. Ambiguity can arise if it's unclear who or what is 'enough' to perform the action.

Common error

Avoid using "enough to" in sentences where the subject is ambiguous. For instance, instead of saying "There's enough to go around", specify "There's enough food to go around among the guests". This clarifies what is sufficient and who benefits from it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enough to" functions as a modifier indicating sufficiency or adequacy. As Ludwig AI points out, it highlights that a certain threshold has been met, enabling a specific action or outcome. Examples include "good enough to hug" or "enough to win".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "enough to" is a common and versatile expression used to indicate sufficiency or adequacy across a wide range of contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and serves to highlight that a specific threshold has been met, enabling a certain outcome. It frequently appears in news and media sources, as well as in wikis, and has a neutral formality, making it suitable for diverse forms of writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the subject is clearly defined and that the context clarifies what standard is being met to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "sufficient to" or "adequate to" can be used depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficient to

Replaces "enough" with its synonym "sufficient", maintaining the same meaning of adequacy.

adequate to

Uses "adequate" as a synonym, suggesting a satisfactory level of capability.

capable of

Shifts the focus to capability, implying the possession of necessary skills or resources.

able to

A more general expression of ability or capacity, similar to "enough to".

sufficiently

Uses "sufficiently" as an adverb, modifying a verb to indicate adequacy.

just enough to

Emphasizes the bare minimum required for a certain outcome.

ample to

Suggests a generous or abundant sufficiency.

qualified to

Highlights that someone/something has the right qualifications or requirements to do something.

competent to

Focuses on the competence to perform a specific task or function.

up to

Indicates a state of readiness or suitability for a particular purpose.

FAQs

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

The phrase "enough to" is used to express sufficiency. For example, "The evidence was "enough to convict" the suspect", or "Is there "enough to go around""?

What are some alternatives to "enough to"?

Alternatives include "sufficient to", "adequate to", or "capable of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to follow "enough" with "to"?

While "enough" can sometimes stand alone, using "enough to" is crucial when you want to specify the consequence or purpose that the sufficiency enables. Without "to", the sentence might lack clarity.

How does the formality level change when using "enough to"?

The phrase "enough to" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The overall formality of the sentence depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than on the phrase itself.