of insufficient quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'of insufficient quality' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something or someone does not meet a required standard. For example: The performance of the employees was of insufficient quality.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Once, her daughters gave her birthday cards of insufficient quality.

The New York Times

GNM reserves the right to change the closing date where the entries are of insufficient quality.

The Guardian

GNL reserves the right to change the closing date where the entries are of insufficient quality.

The Guardian - Travel

The Promoters reserve the right in their absolute discretion to extend the closing date where the entries received are of insufficient quality.

The Guardian - Books

In addition, GNM reserves the right to extend the Competition Period in the event that the entries received are of insufficient quality or quantity.

The Guardian

I left the post [as chief editor of Climate Research] with no outside pressure, because of insufficient quality control on a bad paper – a sceptic's paper, at that".

The Guardian

We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to extend the closing date where the entries received are of insufficient quality.

The Guardian

GNM reserves the right in its absolute discretion to extend the closing date where the entries received are of insufficient quality.

The Guardian

If the results of the test prove there are "significant negative equality impacts" or that the information is of "insufficient quality to support positive outcomes" then the question would not be included in the next census.

The Guardian

Wright described the police statements as having "a degree of superficiality" and being of "insufficient quality and quantity", but did not accept the evidence had been fabricated or dictated.

The Guardian - Sport

The reporting of observational studies is often of insufficient quality.

Gaceta Sanitaria

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating something described as "of insufficient quality", provide specific details about the shortcomings. For instance, instead of saying "the data was of insufficient quality", specify that "the data was of insufficient quality due to missing variables and biased sampling".

Common error

Avoid using "of insufficient quality" as a standalone criticism without providing supporting details. Always explain why something is considered to be of insufficient quality. Otherwise, the assessment remains subjective and unhelpful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of insufficient quality" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe something as not meeting a required standard, as confirmed by Ludwig, which indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of insufficient quality" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe something that does not meet required standards, primarily in scientific, news, and formal contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific details about the shortcomings to avoid vague assessments. Related phrases include ""of inadequate quality"" and ""of substandard quality"", which offer similar but nuanced meanings. Remember to be specific in your critique and to provide sufficient context when indicating that something is "of insufficient quality".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of inadequate quality

Replaces "insufficient" with "inadequate", suggesting a slightly stronger deficiency.

of substandard quality

Uses "substandard" to imply a failure to meet the minimum required level.

of inferior quality

Employs "inferior" to denote a lower grade or rank in terms of quality.

of poor quality

A more general term indicating a lack of quality.

not up to par

An idiomatic expression meaning not meeting the expected standard.

below the required standard

Specifies that the quality falls short of a necessary benchmark.

lacking the necessary quality

Highlights the absence of essential attributes for quality.

deficient in quality

Focuses on the lacking aspects of the quality.

of unacceptable quality

Indicates that the quality does not meet the criteria for acceptance.

not good enough

A simpler, more direct way of expressing that something does not meet requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "of insufficient quality" in a sentence?

You can use "of insufficient quality" to describe something that does not meet the required standards. For instance, "The submitted research paper was "of insufficient quality" to be published in the journal.".

What are some alternatives to saying "of insufficient quality"?

Alternatives include "of inadequate quality", "of substandard quality", or "of inferior quality", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "of insufficient quality" or "of poor quality"?

"Of insufficient quality" is more formal and specific, suggesting a measurable deficiency. "Of poor quality" is more general and subjective. The best choice depends on the context and the level of precision required. Use "of insufficient quality" when there are specific metrics that are not met.

What does "of insufficient quality" imply?

The phrase "of insufficient quality" implies that something does not meet the necessary standards or requirements for a particular purpose. It suggests that the item or data in question is lacking in some key attributes, rendering it unusable or unreliable.