inadequate in number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inadequate in number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the quantity of something is insufficient or not enough. Example: "The volunteers were inadequate in number to handle the large crowd at the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedia Britannica

Wikipedia

Unicef

Health Policy and Planning

BMC Infectious Diseases

Independent

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The Potomac River bridges that connect Washington and Virginia have proved to be largely inadequate in number and capacity, though this situation has been relieved somewhat by the six-lane Woodrow Wilson Bridge connecting Alexandria, Virginia, to Prince George's county, Maryland (completed in 2008 and replacing an earlier bridge of the same name).

Encyclopedia Britannica

In conjunction with his changes to poster display arrangements, Pick experimented with the positioning and sizing of station name signs on platforms, which were often inadequate in number or poorly placed.

Wikipedia

Health workers are not only inadequate in number but are already overworked.

Unicef

There was over-reliance on equipment such as incubators which were inadequate in number.

Health Policy and Planning

Reported risk factors for poor adherence to recommended hand hygiene practices include handwashing agents causing irritation and dryness, sinks that are inadequate in number or inconveniently located, and lack of soap and paper towels [ 17, 19].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Where toilet facilities do exist – for example in schools – they are sometimes so inadequate in numbers as to be almost useless.

Independent

While GUTs resolve some of the problems with the Standard Model, they remain inadequate in a number of respects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The NMSF (2009) survey reported that bereavement midwife care was inadequate in a number of UK NHS Trusts.

Nurse Education Today

There was also controversy when the al-Madinah free school in Derby was judged by the education watchdog Ofsted to be "inadequate" in a number of areas.

BBC

In an interview with TechCrunch, Froes said he settled on a new take on the existing 'health drink' space that he maintains is inadequate in a number of ways.

TechCrunch

Further, common limit load solutions based on ligament yielding are inadequate in a number of cases even for through crack configurations and should be replaced by some kind of local yielding solutions.

Engineering Fracture Mechanics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inadequate in number", ensure the context clearly specifies what is insufficient. For example, "The resources were inadequate in number to address the scale of the problem."

Common error

Avoid using "inadequate in number" when simply "inadequate" suffices. If the insufficiency relates specifically to quantity, then "inadequate in number" is appropriate. Otherwise, "inadequate" alone is often clearer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inadequate in number" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the quantity or amount of something is insufficient. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable and correct in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inadequate in number" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express that something is insufficient in quantity. Ludwig AI confirms this, and it is found across diverse sources from science to news media. While not extremely common, it's a precise phrase to use when you specifically want to highlight a shortage in quantity. Alternatives like "insufficient in quantity" or "deficient in number" can also be employed, but "inadequate in number" carries a specific emphasis on the numerical deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Insufficient in quantity

Focuses on the amount being not enough rather than the specific count.

Lacking in sufficient quantity

Highlights the absence of an adequate amount.

Deficient in number

Emphasizes a shortfall or deficit in the count.

Too few in number

Uses simpler language to convey the scarcity.

Limited in quantity

Indicates a restriction on the available amount.

Sparse in numbers

Suggests a scattered or thinly distributed quantity.

A scarcity of

Highlights that there is not enough of something

An insufficiency of

Stresses the inadequacy or lack of enough of something.

In short supply

Indicates there is a lack of adequate material

Meager in amount

Implies a small or paltry quantity available.

FAQs

How can I use "inadequate in number" in a sentence?

You can use "inadequate in number" to describe situations where the quantity of something is insufficient. For example, "The staff was inadequate in number to handle the patient load."

What phrases can I use instead of "inadequate in number"?

Alternatives include "insufficient in quantity", "deficient in number", or "too few in number".

Is it better to say "inadequate number" or "inadequate in number"?

While both can be correct, "inadequate in number" is more precise when specifically referring to a shortage of quantity. "Inadequate number" may be suitable in some contexts, but "inadequate in number" removes ambiguity.

What is the difference between "inadequate" and "inadequate in number"?

"Inadequate" generally means not good enough, while "inadequate in number" specifically means that there is not enough of something. For example, "The training was inadequate" versus "The trainers were inadequate in number".