reliable enough

USAGE SUMMARY

"reliable enough" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a certain thing or person is dependable or trustworthy but not necessarily completely so. For example: "He was reliable enough to do the job, so I gave him the task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The devices aren't quite reliable enough.

MIT Technology Review

Literature correlations are not reliable enough for commercial scale up.

Catalysis Today

The alternative, the industry argues, is not reliable enough.

The New York Times

Fog machines are difficult to maintain/refill and other methods of producing smoke aren't reliable enough.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But they're not admissible as evidence in courts of law as they're not considered reliable enough.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The experience can be profoundly dispiriting, even if the service is reliable enough.

The Guardian - Opinion

We discontinued that test in March because the data was not reliable enough for publication.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Powell has said he did not consider the information reliable enough.

The New York Times

In that case, why did she think it reliable enough to quote?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

And are these tests reliable enough to base that decision on?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mobile phones didn't have reliable-enough connectivity to maintain conversations with clouds.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reliable enough", ensure the context clearly defines the threshold of reliability required. This helps avoid ambiguity about whether the subject meets the necessary standards.

Common error

Avoid using "reliable enough" when the context demands absolute reliability. Reserve this phrase for situations where a certain degree of unreliability is tolerable or expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reliable enough" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically an adjective ("reliable") modified by an adverb ("enough"). It qualifies a noun, indicating that something possesses an acceptable, but not necessarily perfect, degree of reliability. Ludwig examples show its common use in assessing data, services, and technologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reliable enough" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something meets a minimum threshold of dependability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase sees frequent use in various contexts ranging from News & Media to Science. It's crucial to consider the context when using the phrase to ensure you aren't overstating reliability when absolute certainty is needed. Alternatives such as "sufficiently reliable", "adequately dependable", and "acceptably trustworthy" can be used to fine-tune the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sufficiently reliable

Reorders the words while maintaining the core meaning but uses a more formal tone.

Adequately dependable

Replaces "reliable" with "dependable" and "enough" with "adequately", emphasizing the sufficiency of the dependability.

Acceptably trustworthy

Substitutes "reliable" with "trustworthy", highlighting the acceptability of the level of trust.

Competently dependable

Highlights that the object is competently dependable, suggesting it meets the required level of competence for reliability.

Reasonably reliable

Emphasizes that the reliability is within reasonable expectations, not necessarily perfect but acceptable.

Serviceable enough

Highlights that something is in working order or functions correctly in terms of being reliable.

Fit for purpose

Expresses that the subject is suitable for its intended use, which implies a level of reliability.

Good enough to depend on

Lengthens the phrase, explicitly stating the dependency aspect of reliability.

Trustworthy to a degree

Indicates that trustworthiness exists, but it may not be absolute.

Solid enough to count on

Replaces "reliable" with "solid", which emphasizes the stability and dependability, and replaces "enough" with "to count on", highlighting the ability to rely on something.

FAQs

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

You can use "reliable enough" to describe something that meets a certain threshold of dependability, like: "The data wasn't "reliable enough" for publication" or "The service is "reliable enough", but not exceptional."

What are some alternatives to saying "reliable enough"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently reliable", "adequately dependable", or "acceptably trustworthy", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

When is something considered "reliable enough"?

Something is considered "reliable enough" when it meets the minimum standard of dependability required for a specific purpose, even if it is not perfectly reliable. This is context-dependent.

What's the difference between "reliable enough" and "completely reliable"?

"Reliable enough" implies a degree of reliability that is acceptable for a particular situation, while "completely reliable" suggests absolute dependability without any possibility of failure. If something is "reliable enough", it means that even though it may fail from time to time, it is still acceptable.