proper enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proper enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something meets a certain standard or requirement, but may not exceed it. Example: "The report was proper enough to pass the review, but it lacked depth in analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This has implications for current debates on "proper" approaches for cognition: all approaches are a bit proper, but none will be "proper enough".

Cognitive Systems Research

(Kudos to anyone proper enough to i.d. items in his or her medicine cabinet as facial tissues, adhesive bandages, or cotton swabs).

The New Yorker

It wasn't until the mid-80's that the museum deemed "MoMA" proper enough for use in member communications, and another decade passed before the acronym appeared on banners outside the museum.

The New York Times - Arts

The potential difference subtractively normalized interfacial FTIR SNIFTIRR) spectral studies showed that at high surface coverage of C18EV2+ inserted on the ODT-coated electrode, the electrogenerated radical cations of C18EV2+ are close and in an orientation proper enough to form the dimer; the spectral features characteristic of the dimer were observed.

Electrochimica Acta

This isn't something you normally do at the movies, but it seems proper enough for "Fellini's Roma .It is altogether typical of Fellini that he should film his "Roma," his tribute to a great city, mostly indoors on a sound stage.

The New York Times

Evaluation methods and metrics that rely on financial measures are not proper enough for newer generation of SCM applications, which strive for more value.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

(It's Entenmann's. — Editor) Is exercise/working out a must, or is proper diet enough?

The New York Times

Furthermore, if, or are proper small enough positive numbers, condition (1.4) holds too.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Our study also demonstrated that QSAR modeling based on structure fingerprints could afford potential important substructural fragments as toxicity alerts, but a proper and enough large fingerprint dictionary should be adopted.

Journal of Cheminformatics

If you have been away from home proper long enough, another development may have already begun.

Huffington Post

Will one level proper be enough to keep people content until the next batch of missions becomes available?

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proper enough", consider if a more specific adjective would provide greater clarity. For example, instead of "the tool was proper enough", consider "the tool was precise enough".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "proper enough" can sound informal in academic or professional contexts. Opt for stronger, more precise alternatives like "sufficiently adequate" or "adequately suitable" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proper enough" functions as an adjectival modifier, indicating a degree of sufficiency or adequacy. According to Ludwig AI, it suggests that something meets a minimum requirement but may not exceed it. The Ludwig examples showcase use in diverse contexts, from museum communications to evaluations of supply chain applications.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Proper enough" is a phrase used to indicate that something meets a certain standard or requirement without exceeding it, suggesting a level of adequacy rather than excellence. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare, with examples primarily found in news media and scientific sources. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, and alternative phrases like "sufficiently adequate" or "adequately suitable" can provide a more formal tone in appropriate contexts. While it's considered valid to use in writing, be aware that there are alternative ways to express a better sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Suitable enough

Reorders the words while retaining the original meaning and emphasis on suitability, and that the suitability is on the lower end.

Sufficiently adequate

Emphasizes both sufficiency and adequacy, creating a more formal tone.

Adequately suitable

Stresses the suitability of something for a specific purpose.

Just adequate

Highlights the minimal level of acceptability.

Good enough

A more informal and common alternative, implying a satisfactory but not exceptional level.

Acceptable

A concise way to express that something meets the required standards.

Passable

Suggests something barely meets the required standard, often with a negative connotation.

Tolerable

Implies something is acceptable despite having undesirable qualities.

Up to par

Indicates that something meets the expected level of quality.

Satisfactory

Indicates that something fulfills the requirements or expectations.

FAQs

What does "proper enough" mean?

"Proper enough" means something meets a certain standard or requirement but may not exceed it. It suggests adequacy rather than excellence.

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

You might say, "The report was "proper enough" to pass the review, but it lacked depth in analysis".

What are some alternatives to "proper enough"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently adequate", "adequately suitable", or "good enough", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "proper enough" formal or informal?

"Proper enough" leans towards the informal side. In formal writing, consider more precise and sophisticated alternatives to convey the intended meaning more effectively.