far from sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

"far from sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is not enough or does not adequately meet a requirement. For example, "His explanation for why he was late was far from sufficient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To Harbury, this was far from sufficient.

The New Yorker

While the move is important, it is far from sufficient.

The New York Times

That move is clearly necessary, though far from sufficient.

The New York Times

HMRC have tried to address this but their help emails etc are far from sufficient.

The Guardian

Labour was always a necessary but far from sufficient vehicle for centre-left advance.

The Guardian - Opinion

He says that while there might be a strategy in place, it is "far from" sufficient.

The Guardian

We face a very serious problem for which scientific knowledge is far from sufficient.

The Guardian

We face a very serious problem to which scientific knowledge is far from sufficient to cope.

The Guardian

Recognise that while early-stage capital is critical to advancing technologies, it is far from sufficient.

The Guardian

Definitely necessary, and I appreciate the health care reference, but far from sufficient.

The New York Times

That is nearly twice what was spent on AIDS in developing countries in 2000 but still far from sufficient.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far from sufficient", ensure the context clearly establishes what the subject is insufficient for. Be specific to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "far from sufficient" when a weaker expression would suffice. The phrase implies a significant gap between what is available and what is required; reserve it for situations where the shortfall is substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from sufficient" functions as a qualifier, expressing that something does not meet the required standard or amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate inadequacy. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "funding", "knowledge", and "training".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far from sufficient" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something is inadequate or doesn't meet the necessary requirements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and readily usable in writing. Analysis of examples demonstrates that its primary function is to qualify a statement, indicating a deficiency. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, this phrase has a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional and academic contexts. When using "far from sufficient", ensure clarity by specifying what the subject falls short of, and avoid redundancy by omitting "enough". Alternatives like "far from adequate" or "nowhere near enough" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from adequate

This alternative is a direct synonym, replacing "sufficient" with "adequate" to convey the same meaning of not being enough.

not nearly sufficient

This alternative adds "nearly" to soften the statement slightly, indicating that it's not close to being sufficient.

nowhere near enough

This alternative is more informal, using "nowhere near" to emphasize the lack of sufficiency.

wholly inadequate

This alternative uses a stronger adjective, "wholly", to emphasize the insufficiency.

proves insufficient

This alternative directly states that something is proven to not meet the required level of sufficiency.

falls short of what's needed

This alternative uses a verb phrase to describe the lack of sufficiency in terms of needs.

lacking what is necessary

This alternative explicitly states the absence of necessary qualities or components.

remains wanting

This alternative uses a more formal tone, indicating that something is still lacking or not up to par.

deficient to a large degree

This alternative uses "deficient" to highlight a lack of something and "to a large degree" to emphasize it is very far from sufficient.

leaves much to be desired

This alternative is an idiomatic expression indicating that something is lacking or not good enough.

FAQs

How can I use "far from sufficient" in a sentence?

Use "far from sufficient" to express that something is not enough or does not adequately meet the requirements for a particular situation. For instance, "The funding allocated to the project was "far from sufficient" to cover all the expenses".

What are some alternatives to saying "far from sufficient"?

You can use alternatives like "far from adequate", "nowhere near enough", or "wholly inadequate" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "far from sufficient enough"?

No, saying "far from sufficient enough" is redundant. "Sufficient" already implies enough, so adding "enough" is unnecessary. Just use ""far from sufficient"".

What's the difference between "far from sufficient" and "not sufficient"?

"Far from sufficient" emphasizes a greater degree of inadequacy compared to "not sufficient". While both indicate a lack of sufficiency, ""far from sufficient"" suggests that the subject is significantly lacking or falling short of what's needed.