precise enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precise enough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is exact or has enough details for a specific purpose. For example, "The instructions were precise enough for me to assemble the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Britain has never introduced a national prostate screening programme as existing tests are not precise enough.

The Guardian

The reports from the recently dead were too few, and they were never precise enough.

The New Yorker

The new set of data is precise enough to differentiate between various proposed models of inflation.

The New York Times - Science

He said it was not precise enough about what modifications would require new pollution controls.

The New York Times

"Tell," however, may not be a precise enough word to describe the book's incantatory narrative style.

The New York Times - Books

But those models are not precise enough to say where it is safe to fly.

The New York Times

Trade access is not a precise enough weapon to deploy for other goals.

The Economist

Commercial sine bars however are not precise enough.

Precision Engineering

Whether transthoracic echocardiography is precise enough is far from certain.

Annals of Intensive Care

Capacitive screens were too expensive, or not precise enough.

TechCrunch

They will be precise enough to capture single photons.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precise enough" to convey that something is accurate enough for a specific context, but perhaps not perfectly accurate in an absolute sense. Be aware of the subtle nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "precise enough" when a higher degree of accuracy is genuinely required or achievable. Overstating precision can lead to misunderstandings and flawed results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precise enough" functions as an adjectival modifier, indicating a sufficient level of accuracy for a given requirement or context. Ludwig provides examples where it qualifies measurements, models, and techniques, suggesting they meet a particular standard without necessarily being perfect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "precise enough" is a versatile expression indicating that something meets a necessary level of accuracy without being perfectly exact. As Ludwig shows, it's frequently used in scientific, news, and business contexts. It's grammatically correct and very common. The term's effectiveness lies in its ability to convey sufficiency rather than perfection, acknowledging the practical limitations of achieving absolute precision. Keep in mind that while Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, overstating precision where it isn't warranted can be misleading. Using alternatives like "sufficiently accurate" or "adequate for the purpose" might be suitable depending on the specific shade of meaning you intend to communicate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accurate enough

Direct synonym focusing on accuracy, interchangeable in many contexts.

meeting the required accuracy

Focuses on fulfilling accuracy requirements, which can be similar to being "precise enough".

sufficiently accurate

Implies a satisfactory level of accuracy, potentially with less emphasis on the precision itself.

precise to the degree necessary

Highlights that precision is tailored to meet specific needs.

satisfactorily precise

Emphasizes that the precision is good enough to meet expectations or requirements.

adequate for the purpose

Highlights that something meets the requirements for a specific task, focusing less on precision.

within acceptable limits

Indicates that the level of imprecision or error is tolerable.

close enough

An informal equivalent implying the level of accuracy is acceptable even if not perfect.

good enough for the job

Informal way of saying something meets the necessary standard for a task, with less stress on precision.

sufficiently detailed

Focuses on the level of detail rather than precision, implying enough information is available.

FAQs

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

Use "precise enough" to indicate that something meets a necessary level of accuracy for a particular purpose, for example: "The measurement was "accurate enough" for the experiment".

What are some alternatives to saying "precise enough"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently accurate", "adequate for the purpose", or "accurate enough", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "precise enough" or "perfectly precise"?

"Precise enough" suggests a level of precision that meets a specific need, while "perfectly precise" indicates absolute accuracy. Use "precise enough" when the context doesn't require absolute perfection and the degree of precision is appropriate. Choose "perfectly precise" when no error margin is acceptable.

What does it mean when something is "not precise enough"?

It means the level of accuracy or detail is insufficient for the intended purpose. For example, "The model's predictions were "not accurate enough" to guide policy decisions".