nearly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is close to being sufficient but not quite there. Example: "The funding we received is nearly enough to complete the project, but we still need additional support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's not nearly enough.

The New York Times - Arts

Not nearly enough — yet.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

RR: Not nearly enough.

University of California, Berkeley

This is not nearly enough.

The Economist

That is not nearly enough.

The New York Times

But it's not nearly enough.

The New York Times - Arts

It was not nearly enough.

The New York Times - Health

It wasn't nearly enough.

The New York Times - Sports

They're not nearly enough.

The New York Times

Not nearly enough from my perspective.

The New York Times

"But they are not nearly enough yet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly enough" to convey that something is close to meeting a requirement or standard, but doesn't quite fully achieve it. This adds nuance compared to simply saying something is 'enough'.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly enough" when something is severely lacking. The phrase implies a small margin of difference from being sufficient, not a large one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something meets a required level. Ludwig's examples show its use in contexts where something almost satisfies a need or standard but falls slightly short. It qualifies adjectives or verbs to express a close approximation of sufficiency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

19%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

16%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly enough" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to indicate that something almost meets a certain requirement or standard. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, media, and academic contexts. While it suggests a close approximation of sufficiency, it also implies that further action or evaluation may be needed. Alternatives like "almost sufficient" or "close to adequate" can be used for nuanced expression. Remember to avoid using "nearly enough" when describing situations that are far from meeting the requirement. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for precise communication, highlighting the degree to which something approaches completeness or adequacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost sufficient

Indicates a state close to meeting the requirement, differing slightly in emphasis.

close to adequate

Highlights the proximity to a satisfactory level, suggesting it's just shy of meeting the standard.

practically sufficient

Emphasizes the practical aspect of sufficiency, suggesting it's sufficient for most practical purposes.

virtually adequate

Indicates a state of adequacy that is so close that it might as well be considered adequate.

just about enough

Suggests a marginal sufficiency, highlighting that there is barely enough.

not quite sufficient

Directly points out the lack of complete sufficiency, differing in its explicit negation.

falls a little short

Uses idiomatic language to convey the idea that something does not completely reach the required level.

almost up to par

Implies a comparison to a certain standard, indicating that it almost meets that standard.

approaching adequacy

Focuses on the movement towards adequacy, rather than the current state.

bordering on sufficient

Indicates that something is very close to being sufficient, almost at the limit.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly enough" to indicate that something almost meets a requirement or standard. For example, "The funding is "nearly enough" to complete the project, but we still need more funds".

What are some alternatives to "nearly enough"?

Some alternatives include "almost sufficient", "close to adequate", or "just about enough" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not nearly enough"?

Yes, "not nearly enough" is grammatically correct and commonly used to emphasize that something is far from sufficient. It's the opposite of saying it's "nearly enough".

What's the difference between "nearly enough" and "barely enough"?

"Nearly enough" implies that something is close to being sufficient, while "barely enough" suggests that it is only just sufficient and there is very little margin for error. They convey different degrees of sufficiency. "Barely enough" indicates a minimal level of sufficiency, while "nearly enough" suggests approaching sufficiency.