scarcely sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is barely enough or insufficient for a particular purpose or need. Example: "The resources provided for the project were scarcely sufficient to meet the demands of the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

These tendencies seem scarcely sufficient to make the forms worthy of varietal rank.

Cornell University

Indeed, in some crucial ways, they represent an intellectual step backward from a left that had recognised atheism as necessary but scarcely sufficient.

The Guardian - Opinion

The height chosen was scarcely sufficient for maneuvering in so gusty a wind and with no previous acquaintance with the conduct of the machine and its controlling mechanisms.

The New York Times

(Amartya Sen, quoted by Johann Hari) C. The revenue arising from his school was small, and would have been scarcely sufficient to furnish him with daily bread, for he was a huge feeder, and though lank, had the dilating powers of an anaconda.

The New York Times

It is unclear how Fukukita et al. identified their target value, as most of the scans included in their study which were assessed as "scarcely sufficient quality" or worse appear to have values for NECpatient higher than this target.

EJNMMI Research

Supplies for barrier nursing were scarcely sufficient in the early phase of the outbreak and prior training had been insufficient [ 31] and 14 of 22 health workers were infected during the establishment of the first isolation ward [ 24] leading to the reinforcement of infection-control measures [ 27].

Conflict and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Though two weeks ago he transferred his voter registration back to Wyoming, this scarcely seems sufficient to change his habitation.

The New York Times

But his recommendations will scarcely be sufficient even now to satisfy those who ask why governments that continue to pile up nuclear arsenals for the sake of deterrence remain so unwilling to reduce the risk of nuclear disaster by risking agreements with their nuclear rivals.

The New York Times - Books

Teams of experts tasked with reviewing the validity of tornado reports were scarcely able to uncover sufficient evidence that much of the damage in southern Mississippi had been done by tornadoes.

Wikipedia

Exploitation of forest produce can continue in the rainy season, for there is scarcely a month when there are not enough dry days to permit sufficient transport to cope with a fairly regular production despite the effect of the climate.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

And they scarcely complained.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely sufficient" to convey that something is just barely meeting the required level or standard, implying it's close to being inadequate. This nuanced expression is more precise than simply stating 'insufficient'.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely sufficient" excessively in highly formal or technical writing where more precise measurements or quantities are expected. In such cases, provide specific data or metrics instead of relying on this somewhat vague expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely sufficient" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun's state of being almost, but not quite, inadequate. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely sufficient" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to denote something that is just barely adequate. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's fitting for professional and academic environments, as well as news contexts. Alternatives like "barely enough" or "hardly adequate" may be used for similar effect, but the original phrasing offers a nuanced and precise way to communicate a minimal level of adequacy. Although the phrase appears across a variety of authoritative sources, its relatively uncommon usage suggests that it is best reserved for situations where such precision is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely enough

Replaces "scarcely" with "barely", indicating a minimal level of sufficiency.

hardly adequate

Substitutes both words with near synonyms, emphasizing inadequacy.

just about enough

Highlights the marginal nature of sufficiency, implying it's almost not enough.

only just sufficient

Adds emphasis on the barely sufficient nature of something.

minimally adequate

Emphasizes the minimal level of adequacy, suggesting it's the lowest acceptable standard.

nearly insufficient

Focuses on the proximity to being completely insufficient.

almost inadequate

Similar to 'nearly insufficient', but with a slightly stronger emphasis on inadequacy.

scantily sufficient

Emphasizes the meager and limited nature of the sufficiency.

marginally adequate

Implies a small margin of adequacy, suggesting it could easily be insufficient.

insufficient to a small degree

Rephrases the concept to explicitly state that it's insufficient, but only slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely sufficient" in a sentence?

You can use "scarcely sufficient" to describe something that is barely adequate or only just enough to meet a requirement. For example, "The budget allocated for the project was "scarcely sufficient" to cover all the expenses".

What are some alternatives to "scarcely sufficient"?

Alternatives include "barely enough", "hardly adequate", or "minimally adequate". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "scarcely sufficient" a formal or informal expression?

"Scarcely sufficient" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal expression. It's appropriate for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts, but might sound somewhat stilted in very informal settings.

What does "scarcely" mean in the phrase "scarcely sufficient"?

In this context, "scarcely" means 'barely' or 'hardly'. It emphasizes that something is only just meeting the requirement and is close to being insufficient.