not enough money

USAGE SUMMARY

"not enough money" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which you do not have the necessary resources to accomplish something. For example: "We can't go on vacation this year because we don't have not enough money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's just not enough money".

The New York Times

There's not enough money to survive.

The New York Times

It's just not enough money".

The New York Times

"Secondly, it's not enough money.

The New York Times - Sports

"There is not enough money.

The Guardian - Business

"There's still not enough money," he said.

The New York Times

"In the end, it's not enough money.

The Washington Post

"Not enough money," Mr. Adamson said.

The New York Times

Not enough money goes to local people".

The Guardian - Travel

But it's not enough money, surely?

The Guardian

That's not enough money to live on".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow the phrase "not enough money" with a statement of consequences. For example: "There's not enough money to fund the project, so we must seek additional investors."

Common error

Avoid vagueness. Instead of stating "there is not enough money", specify what the funds are inadequate for and the specific impact of the shortfall. For example, instead of "There's not enough money", say "There's "not enough money" to cover operational costs for the next quarter, potentially leading to staff layoffs."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not enough money" functions as a noun phrase acting as a complement to a verb or preposition, indicating a deficiency in financial resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not enough money" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to denote a scarcity of financial resources. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is considered correct. It appears commonly across various registers, from news reports and academic papers to everyday conversations. When using the phrase, be specific about the context and consequences of the financial shortfall. Alternatives such as "insufficient funds" or "limited budget" can be used for a more formal tone. Steer clear of broad statements. Specify how and why the resources are inadequate, and what impact it has.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insufficient funds

A more formal way of saying there isn't enough money available.

limited budget

Implies that spending is restricted due to financial constraints.

financial constraints

Highlights the restrictions placed by a lack of money.

scarce resources

Focuses on the limited availability of money as a resource.

funds are lacking

A more formal and passive way to state that money is missing or unavailable.

strapped for cash

An informal way of saying someone has very little money.

low on funds

Simply states that the amount of money available is low.

cash-strapped

Describes a situation where there's a shortage of money.

inadequate finances

Emphasizes that the available money is not sufficient for needs.

operating on a shoestring budget

Indicates managing expenses with very minimal financial resources.

FAQs

How can I use "not enough money" in a sentence?

You can use "not enough money" to express a lack of sufficient funds for a particular purpose. For instance: "We had "not enough money" to buy a new car", or "The project was cancelled due to "not enough money"."

What are some alternatives to saying "not enough money"?

Alternatives include "insufficient funds", "limited budget", or "financial constraints", depending on the formality and context.

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

Yes, "not enough money" is grammatically correct. It's a common phrase used to indicate a lack of sufficient financial resources.

What's the difference between "not enough money" and "insufficient funds"?

"Not enough money" is more informal and commonly used in everyday conversation, while "insufficient funds" is a more formal term often used in business or financial contexts.