enough to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'enough to be' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something that is sufficient or adequate for a certain purpose. For example: "She had enough experience to be considered for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're young enough to be.

The New Yorker

Young enough to be writing about cutlery.

Independent

Are you tough enough to be President?

The New Yorker

Is it enough to be right?

The New York Times

"It was already enough to be nominated.

Independent

"They're good enough to be 14-3.

The New York Times - Sports

It is not enough to be poor.

The New York Times - Health

I'm tough enough to be P.M".

The New Yorker

"Naïve enough to be really original".

The New York Times - Science

In Canada, enough to be very comfortable.

The New York Times

Is this enough to be President?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enough to be" to clearly express that a certain threshold or requirement is met for a specific purpose or outcome. This construction works well when evaluating if something is sufficient for a particular role or state.

Common error

Avoid using "enough to be" with adjectives that do not have a clear, measurable standard. For instance, saying "interesting enough to be fascinating" is redundant because "fascinating" already implies a high degree of interest. Instead, opt for clearer, more direct phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enough to be" typically functions as a modifier within a sentence, indicating that a certain quality or quantity reaches a level that satisfies a specific condition or purpose. As Ludwig AI explains, it expresses sufficiency or adequacy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "enough to be" is a versatile and commonly used construction that serves to indicate sufficiency or adequacy for a particular purpose or state. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be applied across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When aiming for variety, alternatives like "sufficient to be" or "adequate to be" may be considered to achieve a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficient to be

Replaces "enough" with its synonym "sufficient", maintaining a similar level of formality.

adequate to be

Uses "adequate" as a synonym, suggesting a basic level of requirement is met.

good enough to be

Adds a sense of subjective judgment or acceptance regarding the level of sufficiency.

qualified to be

Implies meeting the necessary criteria or conditions for a specific role or state.

capable of being

Focuses on the inherent ability or potential to achieve a certain state.

large enough to be

Specifies size as the criterion for sufficiency, indicating it meets a size threshold.

strong enough to be

Emphasizes strength or resilience as the determining factor for sufficiency.

able to be

Simple substitution highlighting the possibility of achieving a state.

ready to be

Indicates a state of preparedness or completion, making something suitable for a specific purpose.

fit to be

Suggests suitability or appropriateness for a particular role or condition.

FAQs

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

Use "enough to be" to indicate that something meets a certain standard or is sufficient for a particular purpose. For example, "The ladder was tall enough to be useful for reaching the roof."

What are some alternatives to "enough to be"?

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

Is there a difference between "enough to be" and "sufficient to be"?

While "enough" and "sufficient" are synonyms, "sufficient to be" often carries a more formal tone than "enough to be". Both phrases indicate that a certain requirement is met, but context might favor one over the other.

When is it appropriate to use "enough to be" in formal writing?

"Enough to be" is versatile and suitable for most writing contexts. However, in highly formal or technical writing, consider alternatives like "adequate to be" or "sufficient to be" to maintain a consistent tone.