perfectly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfectly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation in which something is satisfactory or of sufficient quality. For example, "The meal was cooked perfectly enough for us to enjoy it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But very few of them work perfectly enough for it to feel natural.

TechCrunch

This precision is perfectly enough in the context of the human body exploration and an integration of a stereoscopic base with a such size is relatively simple.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

"I mean I don't know what it's like to have a foreskin but I enjoy sex perfectly enough already," he told me as I took a picture of my dog in his new snake skin booties (very chic).

Vice

One or two coats are perfectly enough (see Warnings).

WikiHow

Smile just perfectly enough to get attention from a good crowd.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They have nailed the texture perfectly: sturdy enough for spreading and dipping, but flaky enough for nibbling like potato chips.

The New York Times - Food

Changes widths of all columns to be perfectly large enough to fit their contents.

Stanford University

It is perfectly fair enough for policymakers to make that their judgment having considered all the evidence and angles.

The New York Times

A screen that had previously been perfectly good enough may now look a bit foggy in comparison.

Independent

There's a growing consensus it can be implemented, if not perfectly, effectively enough to make a difference".

The Guardian - Business

Forced to take a taxi ($15 minimum fare) the Cameroonian driver and I talked incredulously as we watched the gravel and grass verge – perfectly wide enough for a sidewalk – drift past into the night.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectly enough" to convey a sense of adequate or satisfactory quality, especially when implying a slight reservation about absolute perfection. For example, 'The cake wasn't perfect, but it was "perfectly enough" for the party.'

Common error

Avoid using "perfectly enough" when absolute perfection is intended. The phrase implies a level of acceptability rather than flawlessness. Choose a different phrasing, for instance, use "perfect" or "absolutely perfect" instead of "perfectly enough" when describing something that is without any shortcomings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfectly enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something is sufficient or satisfactory. As seen in Ludwig, it describes a state where something is acceptable without being flawless.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "perfectly enough" is a grammatically sound adverb phrase that expresses adequate sufficiency, even if it's not extremely common. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Usage is diverse, spanning across news, wiki and scientific contexts. Semantically, alternatives like "entirely enough" or "absolutely enough" offer similar meanings. A key writing tip is to use "perfectly enough" when conveying acceptance without implying absolute perfection, and avoid it when flawlessness is intended. In summary, "perfectly enough" serves as a useful phrase for expressing a balanced assessment of adequacy in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely enough

Emphasizes completeness or sufficiency, similar to "perfectly enough" but with a stronger sense of totality.

absolutely enough

Highlights the lack of any further requirement, differing slightly in tone from "perfectly enough".

totally enough

Conveys a sense of comprehensiveness, making it similar to "perfectly enough" but perhaps slightly less formal.

sufficiently perfect

Reverses the order of the words, placing emphasis on "perfect" while retaining the original meaning.

adequately perfect

Focuses on the adequate level of perfection, shifting the focus from sufficiency to suitability.

satisfactorily sufficient

Highlights both the satisfaction and sufficiency aspects, altering the emphasis slightly.

amply adequate

Indicates a generous adequacy, deviating slightly in connotation from "perfectly enough".

just right

Informal way of conveying that something is ideal or suitable.

good enough

Focuses on the satisfactory nature of something, often implying that it meets the minimum required standard.

passable

Implies something barely meets the minimum requirements or standards.

FAQs

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

You can use "perfectly enough" to describe something that is satisfactory or adequate for a specific purpose, implying it doesn't need to be absolutely flawless. For example, "The solution wasn't ideal, but it was "perfectly enough" to solve the problem."

What can I say instead of "perfectly enough"?

You can use alternatives like "entirely enough", "absolutely enough", or "sufficiently perfect" depending on the context.

Is "perfectly enough" a common phrase in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "perfectly enough" isn't as common as phrases like "good enough" or "sufficiently". Its use is more nuanced, suggesting a calculated level of adequacy that may not always be necessary in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "perfectly enough" and "good enough"?

"Perfectly enough" implies a higher standard was achieved before reaching a state of acceptability, whereas "good enough" suggests meeting the minimum requirements. Using "perfectly enough" conveys that the outcome surpassed basic expectations without being flawless.