less than sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something does not meet the required or expected level of adequacy. Example: "The resources provided for the project were less than sufficient to meet the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In the end, Tye's anecdotal evidence, captivating as it may be, is less than sufficient to deliver fully on his subtitle's promise.

The New York Times - Books

That may be so at present, when supply of sugar within the EU is plentiful, but the group remains concerned that when stocks tighten, which the group believes they inevitably will, competition will prove less than sufficient.

The Guardian - Business

Without it, even a priori deducibility might seem explanatorily less than sufficient, though the need for such a story remains a matter of controversy (Block and Stalnaker 1999, Chalmers and Jackson 2001).

SEP

The emperor's reception towards the British had been tepid at best, having showed little interest in the affairs of Europe, so far away, and refusing to accept a gift from King George which he had thought less than sufficient.

Wikipedia

During the months of low fruit availability, when total caloric intake by females is estimated at about 1800 kCal/day (at best, assuming 100% caloric efficiency of the foods ingested), the orangutan brain is estimated to require about 10% of the total caloric intake, which is less than sufficient to support the body (see above).

Plosone

Blood transfusion is a common procedure in modern medicine, and it is practiced throughout the world; however, many countries report a less than sufficient blood supply.

Blood Cancer Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As a somewhat jaded insurance-purchaser, I set out to learn everything I could to avoid falling prey to a policy that provides less-than-sufficient coverage.

Huffington Post

To be disabled, one only needs to have less a than sufficient function in an ability.

Huffington Post

Experiments with restricted conditions revealed that with using the rotatable trapway system approach, less than one liter of flushwater is sufficient.

Applied Water Science

At present such a system would cost several hundred pounds a unit, but that is likely to fall to less than £100 with sufficient demand.Several European countries, including Germany and Britain, are planning to introduce satellite charging for lorries within the next four years.

The Economist

Usually, volume inaccuracy of less than ±5% is sufficient for most of the biomedical applications [28].

Micro and Nano Systems Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than sufficient", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard or requirement is not being met. Be specific about the deficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "less than sufficient" without specifying what is insufficient. For instance, instead of saying 'The data was less than sufficient', clarify with 'The data was less than sufficient to draw definitive conclusions'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than sufficient" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something does not meet the required or expected level. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase describes a deficiency or inadequacy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than sufficient" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that something falls short of a desired or required level. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adjective phrase and is frequently encountered in scientific and news contexts. While alternatives like "inadequate" and "insufficient" exist, "less than sufficient" offers a nuanced way to express a deficit without being overly absolute. When using this phrase, it's best practice to specify precisely what is lacking to avoid vague statements. The phrase maintains a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadequate

Single-word replacement, meaning not good enough.

insufficient

Single-word replacement, meaning not enough.

not quite enough

More conversational, emphasizing a slight shortfall.

falling short

Idiomatic expression indicating a failure to reach a required standard.

deficient

Implies a lack of something essential.

lacking

Highlights the absence of something needed.

scarce

Suggests that something is rare or limited in availability.

not up to par

Idiomatic expression indicating something is below the expected quality.

marginal

Implies something barely meets the minimum requirements.

not meeting requirements

Directly states a failure to satisfy specific needs.

FAQs

How can I use "less than sufficient" in a sentence?

Use "less than sufficient" to indicate that something does not meet a certain required or expected level. For example: "The evidence was less than sufficient to convict the suspect."

What's a good alternative to "less than sufficient"?

Alternatives include "inadequate", "insufficient", or "not enough" depending on the specific context. Each carries a similar meaning of deficiency but may fit different nuances.

Is there a difference between "insufficient" and "less than sufficient"?

While very similar, "less than sufficient" can sometimes imply a more nuanced or borderline deficiency, whereas "insufficient" is a more direct statement of inadequacy. In most cases, they are interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "less than sufficient" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in formal writing when you need to precisely convey that something falls short of a particular standard or requirement, but you want to avoid a more absolute term like "inadequate".