quite adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite adequate" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something has met the necessary requirements. For example, "The report was quite adequate for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neither seem quite adequate.

The Guardian - Books

The name he gave them - "graphic foibles" - is nice but not quite adequate.

The Guardian - Books

"What has been done through the security council is quite adequate and sufficient".

The Guardian

"He's quite adequate for the job without me," Mr. Gehry added, referring to Mr. Hardy.

The New York Times

Our conclusion is somewhat surprising: single-tag Markov-model taggers are quite adequate for the task.

Artificial Intelligence

(Nobody needs a detective these days; Facebook activity is quite adequate as a paperless trail).

The New York Times

36 In many cases, no doubt, a § 3 stay is quite adequate to protect the right to arbitration.

Cornell University

If beaver dams and woody debris slowed the flow of upland rivers, existing flood protection systems would be quite adequate.

The Guardian

The exemptions are quite adequate to protect any document, and the IC review decisions make it plain".

The Guardian

I'd be interested to try the famous Roscoff, but ordinary yellow onions seem quite adequate for the purpose.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That caring has been indispensable - yet even with a successful $370 million drive may not tomorrow prove quite adequate.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quite adequate", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the intended level of sufficiency. If a higher degree of excellence is meant, stronger adjectives like "excellent" or "outstanding" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "quite adequate" when you actually mean something is exceptional or exceeds expectations. This phrase suggests sufficiency, not superiority. If your intention is to express high praise, choose more emphatic language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite adequate" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun. It serves to describe the degree to which something meets the required standards or expectations, indicating that it is sufficient but not necessarily exceptional. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

42%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite adequate" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express that something meets the necessary requirements or standards without being exceptional. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in science, news, and academia. While alternatives like "perfectly adequate" or "entirely sufficient" exist for more formal settings, it strikes a balance between informality and professional tone, making it suitable for various communication needs. It is important to use "quite adequate" when the intention is to express a satisfactory level, and not to suggest a more excellent or exceptional evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite good

Replaces 'adequate' with 'good', suggesting a slightly higher level of satisfaction.

quite sufficient

Emphasizes the sufficiency aspect, meaning enough to meet the requirements.

perfectly adequate

Adds emphasis with 'perfectly', suggesting that something is entirely suitable.

entirely adequate

Similar to 'perfectly adequate', stressing the completeness of the adequacy.

completely adequate

Uses 'completely' to indicate a full and comprehensive level of adequacy.

satisfactory

Single-word replacement conveying the same meaning of meeting requirements.

acceptable

Indicates that something is good enough or permissible, similar to adequate.

suitable

Highlights the appropriateness of something for a specific purpose.

passable

Suggests that something meets the minimum requirements, though perhaps not ideally.

serviceable

Implies that something is functional and able to perform its intended purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "quite adequate" in a sentence?

Use "quite adequate" to describe something that meets the necessary requirements or standards without being exceptional. For example, "The explanation was "quite adequate" for my understanding".

What's a more formal alternative to "quite adequate"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "perfectly adequate" or "entirely sufficient" to convey a similar meaning with a slightly more sophisticated tone.

When is it appropriate to use "quite adequate" instead of "excellent"?

Use "quite adequate" when something meets the minimum requirements or expectations. If something is truly exceptional or outstanding, use words like "excellent", "outstanding", or "superb" instead.

What is the difference between "quite adequate" and "barely adequate"?

"Quite adequate" suggests a satisfactory level of sufficiency, while "barely adequate" implies that something only just meets the minimum requirements and is perhaps not entirely satisfactory. "Quite adequate" has a more positive connotation than "barely adequate".