simply sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "simply sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that meets the basic requirements or needs without any excess. Example: "The resources provided were simply sufficient to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Such a criterion is point-wise, with respect to some appropriate norm of velocity u and the gradient of d, and it can be viewed as a sort of simply sufficient condition on the local regularity of suitable weak solutions.

Boundary Value Problems

"It is no longer simply sufficient that the pope exists, says Ball. "As the Church grows and faces new challenges, future popes will... be expected to meet these challenges with institutional transparency and youthful energy".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But if Pakistan's nuclear weapons fall into the wrong hands (or North Korea's weapons become more accurate, or Iran is simply provided sufficient time and space), history will probably not judge these efforts sufficient.

The New York Times

"It is simply not sufficient to say you're entitled to a lawyer.

The New York Times

Our failing economy needs stimulating and your nub of grey meat and Mars egg are simply not sufficient.

The Guardian - Opinion

Waiting until next year to do these reforms makes sense, but only if the administration intends to do more than simply delay sufficient spending.

The New York Times

The Kyoto Protocol is simply not sufficient to substantially improve the ecology in the world, although the movement that we're moving in is in the right direction.

The New York Times

"We've had a number of fairly tepid steps taken to address the problem, but in reality, those mitigating actions are simply not sufficient," Mr. Johns said.

The New York Times

"We have seen in dealing with deficits," Mrs. Merkel said, "that our procedures are simply not sufficient and that we have to draw lessons from that".

The New York Times

This is the equivalent of Voldemort having to be carried around in Professor Quirrell's turban, because his strength is simply not sufficient to support a body of his own.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Justice Alito, noting that there are numerous definitions of who is a supervisor, wrote that "the ability to direct another employee's tasks is simply not sufficient" to declare someone a supervisor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "simply sufficient" when you want to emphasize that something meets a basic need without being excessive or luxurious. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts where concise language is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "simply sufficient" when you actually mean something is more than adequate or excellent. This phrase suggests a minimal level of acceptability, not a surplus or high quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "simply sufficient" functions as a qualifier, specifically emphasizing that something is just adequate or meets the bare minimum requirements. It's used to denote a state of being adequate without any excess. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "simply sufficient" is a grammatically sound and valid expression used to indicate that something is just adequate without being excessive. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and applicability across various domains, including science, news media, and formal business contexts. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys a sense of bare adequacy, making it suitable for situations where precise and concise language is valued. Alternatives such as "just enough" or "barely adequate" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Be mindful to avoid using it when you intend to express that something is more than adequate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only sufficient

Highlights that it is sufficient and nothing more.

just enough

Highlights that there's no excess beyond what's needed.

only just enough

Focuses on the narrow margin of sufficiency.

barely adequate

Emphasizes the minimal level of adequacy.

merely adequate

Highlights the lack of any extra quality or amount.

minimally adequate

Stresses the lowest acceptable level of sufficiency.

adequately minimal

Highlights the minimality with the adequate level.

scarcely adequate

Implies a question of whether it really meets the needs.

just passable

Emphasizes that it barely meets the required standard.

hardly sufficient

Suggests that the level of sufficiency is questionable.

FAQs

How to use "simply sufficient" in a sentence?

Use "simply sufficient" to describe something that meets the minimum requirements or is just adequate for a particular purpose. For example, "The resources provided were "simply sufficient" to complete the project on time".

What can I say instead of "simply sufficient"?

You can use alternatives like "just enough", "barely adequate", or "merely adequate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "simply sufficient" or "sufficient"?

Both ""simply sufficient"" and "sufficient" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Simply sufficient" emphasizes the minimal level of adequacy, while "sufficient" is more general.

What's the difference between "simply sufficient" and "more than sufficient"?

"Simply sufficient" means just enough to meet the requirement, while "more than sufficient" indicates that there is an excess or surplus.