less enough

USAGE SUMMARY

'less enough' is not a correct phrase in written English.
If you want to express the idea that something is not sufficient, you might use the phrases 'not enough' or 'insufficient'. For example: The amount of food we had was not enough for everyone at the party.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Neither Lenny nor Kelly has ever met anyone like the other, and that's more or less enough.

The New Yorker

This is not, by itself, enough to prove that Mr Hatley passed over Mr Hithon because he is a racist, much less enough to justify $1.3m (including $300,000 for "mental anguish").

The Economist

And I'm more or less enough for myself".... Brodsky was born in Leningrad in 1940... Brodsky's estrangement from the state ripened in adolescence, and, at 15, he dropped out of school.

The New Yorker

who, in effect, joins a singing group in order to get out of it — is hardly meaty, it has the essential merit of keeping her onscreen for extended periods of time, and that's more or less enough.

The New Yorker

THE esoteric process required to prepare food and other products for close-ups in television commercials and print advertisements doesn't seem as if it would offer observers any drama -- much less enough drama for an off-Broadway play.

The New York Times

And I'm more or less enough for myself".... Brodsky was born in Leningrad in 1940... Brodsky's estrangement from the state ripened in adolescence, and, at 15, he dropped out of school..

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

This proves to be more or less good enough for D'Souza.

The New York Times - Books

It has been estimated that about two-thirds of the world's population has less than enough food to eat.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You don't need much: an ounce of dried seaweed, or even less, is enough for a salad for four.

The New York Times - Food

The subjects napped 90 minutes or less, long enough to experience slow-wave or deep sleep but not REM sleep.

The New York Times - Science

The fund has increased its payments over the years, but admits that 60% of pensioners still receive less than enough to meet their basic needs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less enough" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically correct alternatives such as "not enough" or "insufficient" to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is combining "less" and "enough" as if they directly modify each other. Remember that "less" typically compares quantities, while "enough" indicates sufficiency. The phrase "not enough" already adequately expresses insufficiency.

Linguistic Context

The expression "less enough" is grammatically non-standard. In English, "enough" typically follows a modifier to indicate sufficiency, while "less" is used for comparisons. Ludwig AI flags the phrase as incorrect because it doesn't follow standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less enough" is grammatically incorrect and not recognized in standard English. According to Ludwig AI, it's an invalid phrase. More appropriate alternatives to convey the idea of insufficiency include "not enough", "insufficient", or "inadequate". Therefore, it's best to avoid using "less enough" in formal writing and professional communication, as it could lead to confusion or be perceived as an error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not quite sufficient

Indicates a slight deficiency, implying it needs a little more to be adequate.

only just enough

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something fulfills the requirement.

marginally sufficient

Suggests something meets the requirement but only by a small margin.

just about enough

Conveys that something barely reaches the required level or quantity.

barely sufficient

Emphasizes minimal adequacy, stressing that something is only just enough.

scarcely adequate

Highlights the lack of an acceptable quantity of a necessary resource.

hardly adequate

Highlights the inadequacy of something, suggesting it's far from satisfactory.

somewhat lacking

Indicates a deficiency in some aspect, implying it needs improvement.

a bit short

Informally suggests that something is slightly less than what is needed.

insufficient quantity

Directly points out the lack of a required amount.

FAQs

What does "not enough" mean?

The phrase "not enough" signifies that there is an insufficient quantity or degree of something needed or desired. It indicates a deficiency or lack.

What can I say instead of "less enough"?

Since "less enough" is not standard English, use alternatives like "not enough", "insufficient", or "inadequate" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "less enough" or "not enough"?

"Not enough" is the grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate insufficiency. "Less enough" is not a recognized or accepted expression in standard English.

How can I express that something is slightly insufficient?

To express that something is slightly insufficient, you can use phrases such as "not quite enough", "barely sufficient", or "marginally adequate".