little enough

USAGE SUMMARY

"little enough" is a valid phrase and can be used in written English.
It means something is barely sufficient or not as much as one would hope for. Example: "I thought I had saved enough money for the trip, but it turns out it was little enough to cover the expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Little enough had actually happened.

The Economist

Little enough to ride your knee".

The New York Times

They have little enough time to do so.

Independent

But after that there was little enough to talk about.

The New Yorker

There was little enough choice of "out" in this town.

The New Yorker

Just a little, enough that the hours were bearable.

The New Yorker

Already, there is little enough help from the federal government for the arts.

The Economist

When Pehle reviewed the work of the WRB, he commented, "What we did was little enough.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Motown had deemed little Michael not little enough, and promptly shaved two years off his age.

The New Yorker

Small countries carry little enough weight; why reject this way of modestly increasing it?

The Economist

And it changes the look of the offense a little, enough to open up space inside".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "little enough" to express mild disappointment or resignation that something is barely sufficient, but avoid using it in highly formal contexts where more precise language is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "little enough" when you mean "almost none" or "practically nothing". While it implies insufficiency, it does suggest a small amount is present, whereas "almost none" suggests near absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically qualifying a noun or verb to indicate a state of minimal sufficiency or inadequacy. This is supported by Ludwig and the diverse range of examples available.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little enough" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a minimal level of sufficiency, often with a hint of disappointment. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across diverse contexts, primarily in news and media, and to a lesser extent in scientific and formal business communications. While versatile, it's best to avoid this expression in formal academic writing where precision is key. When aiming to express a similar sentiment, consider alternatives like "barely sufficient" or "hardly adequate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely sufficient

Emphasizes the minimal level of adequacy.

hardly adequate

Highlights the deficiency in meeting the required standard.

scarcely sufficient

Stresses the lack or shortage in the amount or degree.

just sufficient

Indicates that something meets the requirement, but only by a small margin.

marginally adequate

Highlights the slightly acceptable nature, despite its limitations.

only just enough

Implies a close call in meeting a certain need or requirement.

not quite sufficient

Acknowledges that something is lacking to reach full sufficiency.

insufficient to a degree

Highlights that is not at the level required.

barely meets the minimum

Focuses on reaching only the lowest acceptable level.

falls short to a degree

Suggests a deficiency in reaching a goal.

FAQs

How can I use "little enough" in a sentence?

You can use "little enough" to indicate that something is barely sufficient or not as much as one would hope for. For example, "I thought I had saved enough money for the trip, but it turns out it was "little enough" to cover the expenses."

What are some alternatives to saying "little enough"?

You can use alternatives like "barely sufficient", "hardly adequate", or "scarcely sufficient" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "little enough"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "little enough" is a standard English expression used to indicate a minimal sufficiency.

What's the difference between "just enough" and "little enough"?

"Just enough" implies that something meets the requirement, perhaps narrowly, while "little enough" carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the amount is less than ideal but still possibly adequate. You can consider using "just sufficient" as alternative.