insufficient sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "insufficient sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a quantity of money or resources is inadequate for a particular purpose or requirement. Example: "The project was halted due to an insufficient sum of funds allocated for its completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Parliament voted to grant a subsidy of £140,000, which was an insufficient sum for Charles's war plans.

Wikipedia

But by offering an insufficient sum, these leaders are also showing they remain committed to deep cuts in the program anyway.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In 2011, the court of appeal decided that sum was insufficient.

The Guardian

At the time, it was widely assumed that McConnell knew the sum was insufficient ― that his plan, all along, was to increase the funding once Capito and Portman demanded it, giving them a visible victory in negotiations that they could use to justify eventual support of repeal legislation.

Huffington Post

To sum up, insufficient knowledge and skills about the critical assessment and appraisal of scientific information represent a serious barrier to KT. Conflict of interest with external parties, including all institutions and individuals interacting with family physicians (profile number 4 + 5).

BMC Family Practice

However, most observers believe that these sums are insufficient to put the program in place.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Of that amount, $4 billion was earmarked for homeland security, of which only half would go to localities -- a sum criticized as insufficient even by Mr. Bush's fellow Republican, Gov. George E. Pataki of New York.

The New York Times

Insufficient distance (ID) means the sum of the number of reduced nodes or edges in a participant's matrix in comparison with the lecturer's matrix.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Regardless of whether you are faced with lump-sum negotiations or individual categories, you will have to add up all your anticipated costs and be prepared to negotiate for more if the sum offered is insufficient.

Science Magazine

Alternatively, the damping factor is increased to give a step to gradient descent direction if an iteration provides insufficient reduction in the error sum of squares [ 32].

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Mr Ross suspects both sums will be insufficient.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "insufficient sum", ensure the context clearly indicates what the sum is insufficient for. Providing this context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity. For instance, instead of just saying, "The sum was insufficient", specify, "The insufficient sum prevented the project from being completed".

Common error

Avoid using "insufficient sum" when a more specific term like "budget deficit" or "funding gap" would be more appropriate. "Insufficient sum" is versatile, but precision strengthens your writing. Ask yourself if a more technical or field-specific term better describes the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insufficient sum" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "insufficient" modifies the noun "sum". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and acceptable. The phrase specifies that a particular amount is inadequate for a required purpose.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "insufficient sum" is a grammatically correct and acceptable way to express that a particular amount or quantity is inadequate for a given purpose. While relatively rare, its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what the sum is insufficient for. Alternatives such as "inadequate amount" or "limited funds" can be used depending on the specific context. Keep in mind that precise or field-specific terminology can strengthen writing. The frequency of usage is low, yet the breadth of source types suggests its appropriateness in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Inadequate amount

Replaces "sum" with a more general term for quantity, but retains the meaning of not being enough.

Deficient quantity

Emphasizes the lack of a required amount, shifting focus to the deficiency.

Limited funds

Focuses specifically on the financial aspect of the insufficiency.

Inadequate funds

Similar to "limited funds", directly addresses the shortage of financial resources.

Meager resources

Highlights the scarcity and sparseness of available resources.

Insufficient funds available

Adds availability aspect for funds

Inadequate provision

Shifts the focus to the act of providing and the inadequacy thereof.

Limited budget

Specifically refers to the financial plan and its restrictions.

Insufficient allocation

Highlights the act of distributing resources and the inadequacy of the distributed amount.

Shortfall in funds

Indicates a deficit or gap in the required amount of funds.

FAQs

How can I use "insufficient sum" in a sentence?

You can use "insufficient sum" to describe a situation where the amount of money or resources available is not enough for a specific purpose. For example: "The project was cancelled due to an insufficient sum of funding".

What are some alternatives to "insufficient sum"?

Alternatives to "insufficient sum" include "inadequate amount", "deficient quantity", or "limited funds", depending on the specific context.

Is "insufficient sum" formal or informal language?

"Insufficient sum" is generally considered formal and neutral language, suitable for professional, academic, and news contexts. The level of formality is similar to "inadequate amount".

What's the difference between "insufficient sum" and "insufficient funds"?

While both phrases describe a lack of resources, "insufficient sum" can refer to any kind of resource, while "insufficient funds" specifically refers to money. Therefore, "insufficient funds" is more specific and directly relates to financial resources.