should suffice

USAGE SUMMARY

"should suffice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that something is sufficient or enough for a particular purpose. For example: "Going to the store to buy the ingredients for this dish should suffice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several examples should suffice.

The New York Times

Team-driven motivation should suffice.

The New York Times - Sports

Once a century should suffice.

The New York Times

Two heaping cups should suffice.

The New York Times

A simple apology should suffice.

The New York Times

That should suffice for now.

The New York Times - Sports

(If so, the coffee should suffice).

The New York Times - Magazine

A verbal thank you should suffice.

The New York Times

Really A LOT," should suffice these days.

Independent

Three words should suffice: pretentious macho nonsense.

The New York Times

Schwartz said a driver's license "should suffice".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should suffice" when you want to suggest that something is adequate or satisfactory for a particular purpose. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, indicating a reasonable expectation of sufficiency. For example, "A brief explanation should suffice for the introduction."

Common error

While "should suffice" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. Instead of repeatedly using "should suffice", vary your phrasing with alternatives like "will be adequate" or "will be sufficient" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should suffice" primarily functions as a modal phrase expressing sufficiency or adequacy. It indicates that something is expected to be enough to meet a particular need or requirement, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples, where it's used in various contexts from apologies to academic explanations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should suffice" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is adequate or sufficient for a particular purpose. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Academic sources, indicating its broad applicability. While grammatically correct and widely used, writers should be mindful of the context and avoid overusing it in highly formal settings, opting for synonyms like "will be adequate" for a more refined tone. Overall, "should suffice" is a reliable phrase to convey adequacy across various communicative situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be adequate

Replaces "suffice" with "be adequate", emphasizing the satisfactoriness of something.

should be enough

A more direct and simpler way of saying something is sufficient.

ought to be sufficient

Replaces "should" with "ought to", adding a slightly more formal tone.

should be sufficient

A more formal synonym of "should suffice".

that will do

An idiomatic expression indicating something is adequate or acceptable.

that should be sufficient

Specifies that a particular action or item will meet the requirements.

this will be adequate

Focuses on a specific item or action being sufficient.

this will be enough

A straightforward statement of adequacy for a particular purpose.

that should meet the requirements

Emphasizes that the subject fulfills necessary criteria.

that should cover it

An informal way of saying something is sufficient to handle a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "should suffice" in a sentence?

Use "should suffice" to indicate that something is adequate or enough. For example, "A quick review of the documents "should suffice" to understand the main points".

What are some alternatives to "should suffice"?

You can use alternatives like "should be adequate", "should be enough", or "that will do" depending on the context.

Is "should suffice" formal or informal?

"Should suffice" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally more common in slightly formal or neutral settings. For more formal contexts, consider using "should be sufficient".

What's the difference between "should suffice" and "should be enough"?

While both phrases indicate adequacy, "should suffice" implies that something meets a specific requirement or purpose adequately. "Should be enough" is a more general statement of sufficiency.