not careful enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not careful enough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone has failed to exercise sufficient caution or attention in their actions. Example: "He was not careful enough while handling the fragile equipment, resulting in several breakages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"I don't know enough, I'm not careful enough, I don't listen enough, I don't look enough, I don't feel enough.

The New York Times

DealBook »   The Bet That Blew Up for JPMorgan Chase  |  JPMorgan's latest troubles prove again that banks are still not careful enough about managing risk.

The New York Times

The injury will probably reinvigorate a debate on whether the Nationals were too careful with Strasburg, or perhaps not careful enough.

The New York Times - Sports

It was too carefully danced but not careful enough when Mr. Askegard, splendid until then, flubbed one of the fish dives.

The New York Times - Arts

"There is an eagerness all over the world, in museums, to display antiquities of great value," says Finkelstein, "and there is no question that some of them were not careful enough in their [evaluation] methods.

The Guardian - Arts

Although reporters and editors were careful about using a brief quotation from the unnamed blog – even taking the precaution of typing the words into a search engine to see if it could lead readers to the blog — they apparently were not careful enough.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

In general, she said, "I just wasn't careful enough".

The New York Times

They worry about what might go wrong if they don't work hard enough or aren't careful enough.

Harvard Business Review

If so, he wasn't careful enough; the SEC says that he wrote himself $1.2m in checks from the accounts.Whether he is found guilty or not, the very fact of Mr Liang's arrest is noteworthy.

The Economist

When Testaverde joined the Jets in 1998, Parcells talked about how films showed that most of Testaverde's interceptions with the Bucs, Browns and Ravens had occurred when he was being rushed, that he wasn't careful enough with the ball in those situations.

The New York Times - Sports

Now Ellory and Millar have been caught out because they weren't careful enough to keep their online identities separate.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "not careful enough", specify what area or action requires more caution to provide clarity. For instance, instead of saying "He was not careful enough", say "He was not careful enough when handling the chemicals."

Common error

Avoid using "not careful enough" as a standalone criticism without providing specific examples. Instead of simply stating someone was "not careful enough", explain the specific actions or omissions that demonstrate the lack of care. This provides constructive feedback and avoids vague accusations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not careful enough" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a deficiency in the level of caution exercised. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is a commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not careful enough" is a versatile expression used to denote a lack of sufficient caution or attention. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. While highly common across varied contexts like News & Media and Wiki, its effectiveness is enhanced by providing specific examples of where the lack of care occurred. Consider related phrases such as "too reckless" or "insufficiently cautious" for alternative ways to convey the same message. Avoid overgeneralization by specifying the area or action requiring more caution to provide clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not cautious enough

Very similar to the original phrase, differing only slightly in word order.

careless

A more direct and common synonym, simply stating the absence of care.

not prudent enough

Uses "prudent" as a synonym for "careful", suggesting a lack of good judgment.

insufficiently cautious

Emphasizes the lack of caution, offering a more formal tone.

too reckless

Highlights the imprudence or disregard for potential consequences.

inattentive

Highlights a lack of focus and attention to detail.

negligent

Suggests a failure to exercise the degree of care expected in a particular situation.

imprudent

Emphasizes the lack of wisdom and foresight in actions.

lacking diligence

Focuses on the absence of consistent and thorough effort.

remiss

Implies a failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility, resulting in a lack of care.

FAQs

What does "not careful enough" mean?

The phrase "not careful enough" means that someone did not exercise sufficient caution or attention in a particular situation, potentially leading to negative consequences.

What can I say instead of "not careful enough"?

You can use alternatives such as "too reckless", "insufficiently cautious", or "negligent" depending on the specific context.

How to use "not careful enough" in a sentence?

You can use "not careful enough" to describe a person's actions, for example: "The museum was of the opinion that some of them were "not careful enough" in their [evaluation] methods."

Is it better to say "not careful enough" or "careless"?

Both "not careful enough" and "careless" can be used to describe a lack of caution. "Careless" is more direct and may imply a general disposition, while "not careful enough" suggests a specific instance where more care was needed.