enough to pass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enough to pass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a certain amount or level of something is sufficient to achieve a passing grade or standard. Example: "She studied hard for the exam and felt confident that she had learned enough to pass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was not good enough to pass.

The Guardian

They're not funny enough to pass as comedy, or convincing enough to pass as action.

The Guardian - Film

That should be reason enough to pass the bill.

The New York Times

But enough to pass a 10-1 Miami?

The New York Times - Sports

It's enough to pass through a dream catcher.

The New York Times - Sports

It is small enough to pass through standard doors - is less than 60cms wide.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Some copies were good enough to pass as originals; some were made with intent to deceive.

Columbia University

At six months, he's big enough to pass for 10 or 11 months.

Yale University

Did she really look old enough to pass for his wife?

The New Yorker

The resulting company is then deemed clean enough to pass a rigorous government inspection.

The Economist

VIRUSES need their hosts to survive long enough to pass them on to others.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing performance or quality, use "enough to pass" to indicate a minimum acceptable standard has been met. For instance, "His presentation skills were just "enough to pass" the initial screening."

Common error

Avoid overuse of "enough to pass" in formal or academic contexts, where more precise and descriptive language is preferred. Instead of saying "The data was "enough to pass" statistical significance", use phrases like "The data met the threshold for statistical significance" or "The results were statistically significant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enough to pass" functions as an adjective phrase typically modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a sufficient level or quality to meet a specific requirement or standard. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enough to pass" signifies meeting a minimum requirement or standard. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, from academic assessments to product quality evaluations. While versatile, it's important to consider the register of your writing; in more formal settings, alternatives like "meets the minimum requirements" may be preferred. Analysis of usage patterns reveals it is very common in news and media, academia, and science. Remember to use "enough to pass" when you want to clearly communicate that a certain threshold has been successfully cleared, though not necessarily exceeded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passable

A concise way of saying something is just good enough to pass.

good enough to qualify

Focuses on meeting the criteria to be eligible for something.

meets the minimum requirements

Directly states that the basic criteria have been fulfilled.

sufficient to succeed

Emphasizes achieving success, a stronger outcome than merely passing.

satisfactory for approval

Highlights meeting the necessary standards for formal approval.

up to the mark

Indicates that a certain standard has been reached or achieved.

adequate for acceptance

Highlights meeting a minimum requirement for acceptance, often in formal contexts.

competent enough to proceed

Suggests a level of skill that allows for further action or progress.

sufficient to get by

Suggests meeting the bare minimum requirements, often with a sense of barely managing.

able to clear

Implies successfully overcoming an obstacle or requirement.

FAQs

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

You can use "enough to pass" to describe a situation where something meets the minimum requirement or standard. For example, "She studied just "enough to pass" the exam" or "The quality was "enough to pass" inspection".

What are some alternatives to saying "enough to pass"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "sufficient to succeed", "adequate for acceptance", or "good enough to qualify".

Is it always acceptable to use "enough to pass" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "enough to pass" may sound informal in certain contexts. Consider using more precise and descriptive language in formal writing, such as "meets the minimum requirements" or "satisfactory for approval".

Which is correct, "enough to pass" or "good enough to pass"?

Both phrases are generally acceptable. "Enough to pass" is more concise, while "good enough to pass" emphasizes that the standard is met adequately. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis and formality.