it would suffice

USAGE SUMMARY

"it would suffice" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express that something will suffice or be enough. For example: "We only need three volunteers for the bake sale, it would suffice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Over the years we've had some classics, many of which tend to reoccur and leave the alert sub crying out: "Tautologous, tortuous... tell me something I don't know!" Geographical locations offer up a steady supply of Povs where the impersonal pronoun "it" would suffice.

The Guardian

He then added, about the national oil company: "If EPN wants to modernize Pemex it would suffice to clean its corruption.

The New York Times

It contains concepts such as Mars bar and Kit Kat, whereas it would suffice to list chocolate candy, without its children.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

He struck this Faustian pact, knowing it was not in his favour (it never is), but that it would suffice.

The Guardian - Books

I brought one to a San Francisco cat cafe to see if it would suffice in a setting literally bursting with cute.

The Washington Post

When the memorial was dedicated, officials confidently predicted that it would suffice at least through the end of the 21st century.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But, after contemplating the possibility of setting off the room's sprinkler system, Gorman decided that ripping it to pieces would suffice.

Stanford University

Yet, again, if the goal is to eliminate any doubts about the origins of the meat, "It's pork!" would suffice.

The New York Times

There was no certainty of a complete economic boycott which, it was confidently expected, would suffice to make even the most aggressive government prefer to settle its disputes by negotiation rather than by armed attack.

Britannica

In earlier research of our group (Vermeulen et al, 2009a, 2009b), patients indicated that 'opt-out' would suffice if it was ascertained that patients were well informed.

British Journal of Cancer

Normally, that would suffice.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it would suffice", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it would suffice" when you intend to convey excellence or superiority. This phrase indicates adequacy, not exceptional quality. If you want to aim for superiority consider alternatives like "it would excel" or "it would stand out".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it would suffice" functions as a modal construction expressing a conditional or hypothetical level of adequacy. It indicates that something meets a minimum requirement or is good enough for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it would suffice" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is adequate or meets a minimum requirement. Grammatically sound, as Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what "it" refers to, and be mindful of its implication of adequacy rather than excellence. Alternatives like "it would be adequate" or "it would be sufficient" can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it would be adequate

Replaces "suffice" with "be adequate", focusing on meeting a minimum requirement.

it would be sufficient

Synonymous replacement of "suffice" with "be sufficient", emphasizing adequacy.

it would be enough

Simplifies the phrase to a more common expression, highlighting that something is adequate.

it would be ample

Uses "ample" to suggest more than enough, a generous sufficiency.

it would meet the needs

Focuses on satisfying a specific requirement or demand.

it would serve the purpose

Highlights the ability of something to fulfill a specific intention.

that would be all that's needed

Emphasizes the completeness of meeting the requirement, with nothing more necessary.

that should be adequate

Expresses an expectation that something will meet the required standard.

that should do the trick

Informal way of saying something will effectively solve the problem or meet the need.

that should be satisfactory

Indicates that something will meet expectations and be acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "it would suffice" in a sentence?

Use "it would suffice" to indicate that something is adequate or enough to meet a particular need. For example, "A brief explanation "it would suffice" to clarify the issue."

What's a more formal alternative to "it would suffice"?

A more formal alternative could be "it would be sufficient" or "it would be adequate". These phrases maintain a similar meaning while sounding more professional.

When is it appropriate to use "it would suffice"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that something meets a basic requirement or standard, without necessarily being exceptional. For instance, "A passing grade "it would suffice" for graduation."

Is "it would suffice" interchangeable with "it is enough"?

While similar, "it would suffice" often implies a conditional or hypothetical situation. "It is enough" states a current condition. For example, "If we had more time, that "it would suffice"" versus "That is enough for now."