sufficient ability

USAGE SUMMARY

"sufficient ability" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone has the necessary level of skill or capability to do something. For example, "She possesses sufficient ability to lead the team to success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

No biological or clinical marker has demonstrated sufficient ability to match individuals to efficacious treatment.

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Fearfully withdrawing into one's shell is the usual reaction of people who lack sufficient ability to adapt (or who are afraid to display such ability).

The New York Times

She arranged for Orson to receive piano and violin lessons, and the boy demonstrated sufficient ability that he was treated as a wunderkind in his home town of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The New Yorker

I know what the Premier League is capable of throwing at teams but, if you are organised and you stick to your beliefs and you have sufficient ability to help you in those situations, then we will be OK".

The Guardian - Sport

To obtain a comparable result in markets with the biased forecast, at least three smart informed traders with sufficient ability to influence market outcomes are necessary.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

But Keiko had to relearn how to be a whale, as Susan Orlean reported in The New Yorker: He lacked sufficient ability to hold his breath, swim robustly and catch food.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

She still has sufficient abilities to achieve her ten vital goals; health does not have to include the abilities to achieve any or all goals that will produce satisfaction or mental wellbeing.

Bioethics

Linkage studies with sufficient power and ability to control for confounding factors may contribute new scientific findings about associations or the causal nature of these relationships.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The heat sink possesses sufficient cooling ability under elevated power condition.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Inclusion criteria were adult patients aged 18 years or older attending for visual field assessment, sufficient motor ability to sit at the perimeter unaided, able to press the response button, sufficient cognitive ability to understand and follow instructions for performing the test, and willingness to undergo standard kinetic tests on both perimeters on the same day.

BioMed Research International

The target schools tend to have students with sufficient academic ability to go to university.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sufficient ability" when you want to emphasize that someone or something possesses the necessary level of skill or capability to achieve a specific purpose. For example, "The candidate demonstrated "sufficient ability" to lead the project effectively."

Common error

Avoid using "sufficient ability" when a simpler term like "ability" or "capability" would suffice. Overusing "sufficient" can make your writing sound verbose. Make sure that you really need to emphasize the adequateness of the ability, if not, just write "ability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficient ability" functions as a noun phrase modifier, specifying the degree or extent of someone's or something's capability. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in academic, professional, and general contexts, indicating its versatile applicability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficient ability" is a versatile phrase used to convey that someone or something possesses the necessary level of skill or competence for a specific task or purpose. As validated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including science, news, and business. While "adequate competence" and "requisite aptitude" are good alternatives, "sufficient ability" is particularly useful when emphasizing the adequacy of skills. When writing, remember to emphasize the skill that must be demonstrated as "sufficient" and avoid using "sufficient ability" when a simpler term would do. As Ludwig's examples show, it is a practical and effective way to describe the capacity to perform.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficient capability

Highlights the potential or capacity to achieve a specific outcome.

adequate competence

Emphasizes possessing the necessary qualifications or skills to perform a task effectively.

requisite aptitude

Highlights the natural talent or learned capacity needed for a specific purpose.

enough skill

Simple and direct way to indicate the presence of adequate skill.

capable enough

Focuses on the individual's capacity to handle a task or situation.

qualified enough

Indicates that someone meets the required standards or criteria.

competent enough

Highlights the person's capability to perform tasks satisfactorily.

adequate skill set

Focuses on the collection of skills an individual possesses.

requisite expertise

Stresses having the specialized knowledge and skills necessary.

adequate proficiency

Emphasizes the high degree of competence in a particular skill or area.

FAQs

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

Use "sufficient ability" to indicate that someone or something has the required level of skill or competence for a particular task. For example, "The student showed "sufficient ability" in mathematics to excel in the advanced course."

What are some alternatives to "sufficient ability"?

You can use alternatives like "adequate competence", "requisite aptitude", or "enough skill" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "sufficient ability" or "adequate ability"?

Both "sufficient ability" and "adequate ability" are correct, but "sufficient" may imply a slightly higher standard or a more critical requirement, whereas adequate simply means "enough".

When is it appropriate to use "sufficient ability" in professional writing?

It's appropriate when you need to clearly convey that someone meets the minimum required skill level for a specific task or role. For instance, "The applicant demonstrated "sufficient ability" in data analysis to be considered for the position."