it is not enough for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not enough for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a certain condition or requirement does not meet the necessary standards or expectations for a particular situation. Example: "While the initial funding was helpful, it is not enough for the project to succeed in the long term."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It is not enough for the government to wash its hands of people in their care".

The Guardian

It is not enough for Washington to declare that its intentions are altruistic.

The New York Times

But it is not enough for me.

The Guardian

It is not enough for someone to make an error.

The Guardian

It is not enough for all this to be recognized.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, it is not enough for Britain's top prosecutor to be a good lawyer.

Independent

It is not enough for the smartest to become teachers; they have to stay teaching.

The New York Times

It is not enough for chief executives to understand what has to be done.

The Economist

It is not enough for a government to be doing more or less the right things.

The Economist

"It is not enough for us to meet 25% of global gas consumption.

The Economist

To impress connoisseurs, it is not enough for a mechanical watch to keep time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is not enough for", ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is insufficient and what the required standard is. For example, "The funding is not enough for completing the project successfully."

Common error

Avoid using "it is not enough for" without specifying what "it" refers to. Ensure the subject is clear to prevent ambiguity. For example, instead of "It is not enough for success", specify "Hard work alone is not enough for success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not enough for" primarily functions as a predicate adjective phrase, indicating that something is insufficient or inadequate to meet a particular need or requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in a wide range of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is not enough for" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is insufficient or inadequate for a specific purpose. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and it is frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity and that the context establishes what standard or expectation is not being met. Alternatives like "it is insufficient for" or "it falls short of" can be used depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is insufficient for

Replaces "enough" with "insufficient", maintaining the core meaning of inadequacy but with a slightly more formal tone.

it is inadequate for

Substitutes "enough" with "inadequate", emphasizing the lack of necessary qualities or quantity.

it's not sufficient to

Shifts the focus to the action being insufficient, rather than a specific entity. Slightly changes the sentence structure.

it falls short for

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the idea of failing to meet a certain standard or expectation.

it doesn't suffice for

Employs the verb "suffice" to express the lack of adequacy, providing a more formal alternative.

it's not up to the task for

Indicates a lack of capability or suitability for a specific purpose or requirement.

it is wanting for

Uses "wanting" to express a deficiency or lack, creating a slightly archaic or literary tone.

it's just not good enough for

Adds emphasis to the inadequacy, conveying a stronger sense of disappointment or dissatisfaction.

it is far from sufficient for

Emphasizes the insufficiency by adding "far from", indicating a significant gap between the requirement and the available resource.

it's nowhere near adequate for

Similar to the previous alternative, this emphasizes the extreme lack of adequacy.

FAQs

How can I use "it is not enough for" in a sentence?

Use "it is not enough for" to express that something is insufficient to achieve a particular goal or meet a certain requirement. For example, "The initial investment "it is not enough for" the long-term sustainability of the business."

What are some alternatives to "it is not enough for"?

You can use alternatives like "it is insufficient for", "it falls short of", or "it is inadequate for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it is not enough for" or "it isn't enough for"?

Both ""it is not enough for"" and "it isn't enough for" are grammatically correct. The latter is a contraction and is more informal.

What's the difference between "it is not enough for" and "it is not enough to"?

"It is not enough for" is used when referring to a noun or pronoun, while "it is not enough to" is followed by a verb. For example, "The salary is not enough for a comfortable living" vs. "It is not enough to simply apologize; action is needed."