its adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its adequate" is not correct in written English.
It should be "it's adequate" or "its adequacy" depending on the context. You can use it when describing something that meets a certain standard or requirement. Example: "The report is well-prepared, and its adequate analysis of the data supports our conclusions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

For its adequate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract it is essential that oral TU is taken with a meal that contains dietary fat.

Clinical interventions in aging

Its residents were too concentrated, its departure routes too congested, its adequate shelters too few.

The New York Times

The church constitutions in the different territories of the Reformation stressed the duty of caring for the sick and gave suggestions for its adequate realization.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its adequate determination is of paramount importance.

Engineering Fracture Mechanics

Chromium nitride coating is characterized for its adequate mechanical properties, corrosion and oxidation resistance.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Their effects on process performance and criteria for its adequate selection are analysed.

Chemical Engineering Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Better Call Saul," unlike "Boardwalk," may prove itself to be more than the sum of its perfectly adequate parts, or it may end up looking like yet another understandable but possibly ill-advised attempt to supersize a TV franchise.

Huffington Post

It's a nice apartment, 1300 square feet, and its very adequate.

TechCrunch

Time, the Weekly Newsmagazine, has been, and still is, its own adequate apologist.

The New Yorker

Two years ago, Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man failed to come up with anything remotely fresh in its perfectly adequate retelling of the wallcrawler's origin story.

The Guardian - Film

This will include, at its core, adequate levels of private and public investment in research and drug development.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check whether you intend to use the possessive pronoun "its", the contraction "it's" (it is), or a noun form like "adequacy".

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "its" when they mean "it's". Remember that "its" shows possession (e.g., "the company and its employees"), while "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has" (e.g., "it's important to note").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "its adequate" functions as a determiner and adjective, attempting to describe a quality or state of something. However, the correct usage requires either the contraction "it's" (it is) or the noun form "adequacy". Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

13%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "its adequate" is a grammatically incorrect construction that appears with surprising frequency across various sources. Ludwig AI highlights that the possessive pronoun "its" is misused in place of either the contraction "it's" (meaning 'it is') or the noun form "adequacy". While the intended meaning typically revolves around expressing that something is sufficient or meets a certain standard, the grammatical error undermines the clarity and precision of the communication. Alternatives like "it's adequate" or "its adequacy" offer grammatically sound ways to convey similar meanings. Always ensure you use the correct form to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's adequate

Replaces the possessive "its" with the contraction "it's" (it is), correcting the grammatical error while maintaining the meaning of something being sufficient.

its adequacy

Transforms the adjective "adequate" into the noun "adequacy", making the phrase grammatically correct and referring to the state of being adequate.

its sufficiency

Substitutes "adequate" with "sufficiency", emphasizing the completeness or enough-ness of something.

its satisfactoriness

Replaces "adequate" with "satisfactoriness", focusing on the degree to which something fulfills expectations or requirements.

its suitability

Changes "adequate" to "suitability", highlighting the appropriateness of something for a specific purpose or situation.

its competence

Replaces "adequate" with "competence", emphasizing the ability or skill to meet requirements.

its capability

Substitutes "adequate" with "capability", referring to the potential or capacity to perform adequately.

its fitness

Replaces "adequate" with "fitness", stressing the state of being suitable or appropriate.

its appropriateness

Changes "adequate" to "appropriateness", underlining the suitability or correctness in a particular context.

its effectiveness

Substitutes "adequate" with "effectiveness", focusing on the degree to which something achieves the desired result.

FAQs

When should I use "its" versus "it's"?

"Its" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership (e.g., "The dog wagged its tail"), while "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has" (e.g., "it's raining", "it's been a long day").

What are some alternatives to saying something is "adequate"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "sufficient", "satisfactory", "suitable", "competent", or "effective".

Is "its adequacy" grammatically correct?

Yes, "its adequacy" is grammatically correct. It uses the possessive pronoun "its" followed by the noun "adequacy", referring to the state or quality of being adequate.

What is the difference between "it's adequate" and "its adequacy"?

"It's adequate" means "it is adequate", using a contraction and an adjective. "Its adequacy" refers to the degree to which something is adequate, using a possessive pronoun and a noun.