looks adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when assessing something's sufficiency or appropriateness in a particular context. Example: "After reviewing the proposal, it looks adequate for our needs, but we may need to make some adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And the company's capital position looks adequate with more than £3bn economic capital surplus.

The Guardian - Business

Sorry Motherboard, it looks adequate at best.

Vice

The dynamic range of 12-bits looks adequate for imaging of most objects surfaces.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Neither actor was at all certain about performing the scene, being terrified, according to Russell, that one or the other's sexual equipment would not look adequate.

The Guardian

What part of "the Obama plan just doesn't look adequate to the economy's need" is so hard to understand?

The New York Times

Gardner, Larsson and Vaughan look adequate replacements and the United pair O'Shea and Brown can do as well as Phil Neville has at Everton.

Independent

Bear's capital levels, remember, looked adequate just before it capsized.How will investment banks make up for the lower returns that come with less borrowing?

The Economist

One could think that clinicians under-report their proportion of referrals for imaging that is most unlikely to affect treatment, to make their referral practice look adequate and justified.

Insights into Imaging

As observational article it looks perfectly adequate to the journal purpose.

F1000Research

Under the influence of a "tough-minded" ideology committed to behaviorism, it seemed easier to look for adequate theories of action or will, as well as theories of belief or knowledge, than to construct adequate theories of emotion.

SEP

But at no point has growth looked remotely adequate given the depth of the initial plunge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating proposals or plans, use "looks adequate" to convey that they meet basic requirements but might still need refinement.

Common error

Avoid using "looks adequate" when you actually mean something is exceptional or exceeds expectations. This phrase implies basic competence, not excellence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks adequate" functions as a copular verb phrase followed by an adjective, serving to express a subjective assessment of something's sufficiency. This assessment is based on appearance or initial evaluation, as supported by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks adequate" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that something appears to meet the minimum requirements or expectations, though it may not be exceptional. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase appears in contexts ranging from news and media to scientific discussions, indicating a neutral register. While Ludwig examples are somewhat limited, it's essential to use "looks adequate" when you truly mean something is just sufficient and not overstate its quality. Related phrases such as "seems sufficient" or "appears acceptable" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems sufficient

Emphasizes that something appears to meet the requirements or needs.

appears acceptable

Highlights that something meets the minimum standards or expectations.

seems satisfactory

Suggests that something provides contentment or fulfills a particular need well enough.

appears passable

Implies that something barely meets the required standard.

seems reasonable

Indicates that something is fair and appropriate in the given circumstances.

appears competent

Focuses on the capability or skill demonstrated.

seems up to par

Suggests something is at the expected or required level.

appears fitting

Highlights that something is suitable or appropriate.

seems in order

Suggests that something is correctly arranged or in good condition.

appears eligible

Focuses on meeting the specific criteria or requirements for something.

FAQs

How can I use "looks adequate" in a sentence?

You can use "looks adequate" to express that something meets the minimum requirements or seems sufficient. For example, "The initial plan "looks adequate", but we should review it further".

What's a more formal alternative to "looks adequate"?

More formal alternatives include "seems sufficient" or "appears satisfactory". These options convey a similar meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What does it mean when something "looks adequate"?

When something "looks adequate", it means that based on initial observation or assessment, it appears to meet the necessary requirements or standards without necessarily being outstanding.

How does "looks adequate" differ from "looks excellent"?

"Looks adequate" implies that something meets the basic requirements, while "looks excellent" suggests that something surpasses expectations and is of particularly high quality.