not very enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very enough" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally used incorrectly as "enough" already implies sufficiency, making "very" redundant. Example: "The resources provided were not very enough to complete the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The seats were adjustable, but not very — enough for daily driving, but maybe not enough for long-distance touring.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

That's not very long, but enough time to share your favorite songs.

The New York Times

Page 3 has been going about as long as the Super Bowl in America: not very, but long enough to become a staple for a couple of generations of men.

The Economist

BeIng a tech journalearnednd a giant nerd, I how a very easy role in tois discodeionot

TechCrunch

You'll probably hit a little jackpot within the first ten minutes of playing, not very much, but enough to make you feel "lucky".

Vice

[KI 14, Manager, Free State Department of Health] So for me I am not very sure if enough research was done in terms of making a point that the new qualifications are actually tailor-made to suit the current demands of the country.

Global Health Action

A few interviewees questioned the evidence-base for the content of the policy recommendations: So for me I am not very sure if enough research was done in terms of making a point that the new qualifications are actually tailor-made to suit the current demands of the country.

Global Health Action

All this is a decent start, but not very likely to be enough.

The New York Times - Books

"He needs to be fit and is not very fit and fit enough to do what I want.

Independent

That's hard to do and also not very effective, especially when enough is known about the company to make its stealth status questionable at best.

TechCrunch

The coverage is not very expensive and easy enough to add on to your existing policies.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "not very enough" in your writing. Instead, choose clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "not sufficient" or "inadequate".

Common error

The word "enough" already implies a sufficient quantity or degree. Adding "very" before "enough" when using "not" creates a redundant and grammatically incorrect construction. Replace with alternatives like "insufficient" or "inadequate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very enough" attempts to function as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate insufficiency. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

33%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not very enough" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the construction doesn't adhere to standard English grammar. While attempts to use it aim to express insufficiency, it's advisable to use alternatives like ""not sufficient"" or ""inadequate"" for clarity and correctness. Although potentially used across different source types, its ungrammatical nature reduces its effectiveness in formal communication. Therefore, writers should prioritize using grammatically sound alternatives to convey their intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not quite sufficient

Indicates a deficiency without being overly critical.

somewhat insufficient

Softens the statement by indicating a moderate degree of insufficiency.

just barely enough

Adds emphasis to the narrow margin by which something meets a requirement.

only just adequate

Similar to 'just barely enough' but with a slightly more formal tone.

marginally adequate

Implies that something is only just meeting the minimum requirements.

barely sufficient

Emphasizes the minimal level of sufficiency, implying it's just enough.

scarcely sufficient

Stresses the scarcity and near insufficiency of something.

hardly adequate

Highlights the inadequacy and the struggle to meet the required standard.

inadequate to a degree

Highlights that the level of inadequacy can be measured.

lacking sufficiency

Focuses on the absence of the required level or amount.

FAQs

Is "not very enough" grammatically correct?

No, "not very enough" is grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "not sufficient" or "not adequate".

What does "not very enough" mean?

The phrase "not very enough" is intended to convey that something is insufficient, but it's not a standard or correct way to express this idea. It's best to use alternative phrasing.

How can I use "not sufficient" instead of "not very enough" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The resources were not very enough", you can say "The resources were "not sufficient" to complete the task".

What are some alternatives to "not very enough" that are more appropriate?

More appropriate alternatives include "not adequate", "insufficient", or "inadequate". These options are grammatically correct and clearly communicate the intended meaning.