slightly insufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly insufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that does not meet a required standard or need, but only to a small degree. Example: "The funding provided for the project was slightly insufficient to cover all expenses, leading to budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Universal fared slightly better, receiving an "insufficient" grade.

Huffington Post

RNA levels in the same cells were similar to those of PTB, or only slightly lower, and were insufficient to account for the much larger differences in protein levels.

Plosone

The gallery's chairman, Peter Scott, said its current grant of slightly more than $34 million was insufficient for basic operating costs, the BBC reported.

The New York Times - Arts

The League of Nations' reaction to the war was slightly biased against communism, and insufficient to contain the massive importation by fighting factions of arms and other war resources.

Wikipedia

Due to insufficient clearances and slightly distorted link mechanisms, failures in the intricate safety interlocks in the loading sequence for antiflash precautions caused jams during drills and practice firing.

Wikipedia

Patient numbers varied slightly between different transporters since insufficient biopsy material was available for some assessments.

Clinical Epigenetics

As with personal income, the average person reporting insufficient food was slightly more likely to report partner physical violence (OR 1.22 99%CI 1.10 1.35; 1,271/2,679 with insufficient food reported, compared with 2,052/12,536 with sufficient food).

BMC Women's Health

Patient numbers varied slightly between tumor suppressor genes since insufficient biopsy material was available for some assessments.

Clinical Epigenetics

If the water level is insufficient, adjust the knob slightly clockwise until enough water fills the bowl.

WikiHow

The discrepancy between dates from this individual is slightly greater and may be due to insufficient purification during pre-treatment.

Plosone

The inclusion of these residents could possibly have masked intervention benefits slightly because the intervention would be of insufficient intensity to be beneficial in these individuals.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly insufficient", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard or requirement is not being fully met. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly insufficient" when the deficiency is significant. This phrase is best suited for situations where the shortfall is minor and does not drastically impact the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly insufficient" primarily functions as an adverbial intensifier modifying an adjective. It qualifies the degree of insufficiency, indicating that something is not quite enough, but not by a large margin. Based on the absence of direct Ludwig examples, this analysis is derived from general understanding.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly insufficient" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates a minor degree of inadequacy. While there is a lack of direct examples in Ludwig, its meaning is clear. It's best employed when describing situations where something falls just short of meeting requirements, as using the phrase in a situation where it's way off may be incorrect. Given Ludwig's AI indication that this is correct and my expertise, "slightly insufficient" is deemed acceptable for both formal and informal contexts, with an expert recommendation score of 3.5. Keep the nuance and level of deficiency in mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat inadequate

Replaces "slightly" with "somewhat" to indicate a similar degree of insufficiency, focusing on the inadequacy.

marginally deficient

Substitutes "insufficient" with "deficient", emphasizing the lack of a necessary quality or element by a small margin.

a bit lacking

Uses a more informal tone, with "a bit" replacing "slightly" to soften the assessment of insufficiency.

scarcely adequate

Emphasizes how close something is to being sufficient, highlighting that it barely meets the requirements.

just about enough

Expresses a minimal level of sufficiency, implying that it is barely meeting the need.

barely sufficient

Similar to "scarcely adequate", stressing the marginal nature of the sufficiency.

somewhat short

Indicates a small deficit, focusing on the aspect of being not quite enough.

a touch inadequate

Similar to "a bit lacking", but uses "a touch" for a more subtle understatement.

hardly up to par

Emphasizes the failure to meet a standard or expectation, implying a slight shortfall.

minimally acceptable

Focuses on the lowest level of acceptability, suggesting that the item or situation barely meets the minimum requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly insufficient" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly insufficient" to describe something that falls just short of meeting a requirement or standard. For example: "The budget was "slightly insufficient" to cover all the planned activities."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly insufficient"?

Alternatives include "somewhat inadequate", "marginally deficient", or "a bit lacking", depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

Is it better to say "slightly insufficient" or "insufficient"?

Use "slightly insufficient" when you want to emphasize that something is only marginally inadequate. If the deficiency is more pronounced, simply use "insufficient".

Can "slightly insufficient" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly insufficient" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider alternatives like "somewhat inadequate" or "marginally deficient" for an even more polished tone.