sufficient effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficient effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an adequate amount of work or energy put into a task or activity. Example: "To achieve success in this project, we need to ensure that we put in sufficient effort from all team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

General Writing

Academic

News

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

With sufficient effort, it should be able to find one.

The New York Times

"I don't think sufficient effort has been made on that front".

The New Yorker

Nor was sufficient effort being made to fight the disease in general.

The Guardian

They have to, since they can only charge the highest fees if they make sufficient effort in widening participation.

The Guardian

Rural expended sufficient effort to make the white pages directory useful, but insufficient creativity to make it original.

Harvard University

There's simply nothing in the record that demonstrates that you had a sufficient effort made to make that determination.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

She was confident Kratz and other organizers were making sufficient efforts to prevent displacement.

The Washington Post

The State Department today criticized several of the United States' closest allies, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Greece and South Korea, saying they had not made sufficient efforts to stop the trafficking of slaves within their borders.

The New York Times

Beyond that, many Sunnis say they believe that the new Shiite-dominated government has not made sufficient efforts to create a genuine unity government.

The New York Times

According to a 2013 study from Accenture and the UN Global Compact, only a third of CEOs of the world's 1,000 largest firms think that business is making sufficient efforts to address global sustainability challenges, or that the global economy is on track to meet the demands of a growing population.

The Guardian

Armitstead's appeal was successful because the first test, on 20 August 2015, was struck off the record on account of a tester not making sufficient efforts to locate her in a Swedish hotel where the team were based during the UCI Women's Road World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "sufficient effort" with an action verb to strengthen the sentence and indicate the outcome of the effort, such as "exert sufficient effort" or "apply sufficient effort".

Common error

Avoid using "sufficient effort" without specifying what that effort entails. For example, instead of saying 'The team needs to put in sufficient effort', specify 'The team needs to dedicate at least 20 hours per week to the project' to provide clarity and actionable direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficient effort" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "sufficient" modifies the noun "effort". It generally describes the required or adequate amount of exertion needed to achieve a goal. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficient effort" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe an adequate level of exertion. According to Ludwig, this phrase functions as a noun phrase and is used to emphasize the importance of adequate work or energy for a desired outcome. While generally neutral to professional in tone, the register can vary with the context, and can be improved by clearly defining 'sufficient' in specific situations. While the phrase is considered correct by Ludwig, clarifying what "sufficient effort" entails will add more clarity and actionable advice. Common alternatives include "adequate effort" and "enough effort".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Adequate effort

Replaces "sufficient" with "adequate", implying a satisfactory amount of effort.

Enough effort

Uses "enough" instead of "sufficient", indicating the required amount of effort.

Appropriate effort

Specifies that the level of effort is suitable for the task at hand.

Satisfactory effort

Implies that the effort meets the required standards or expectations.

Considerable effort

Emphasizes the substantial amount of effort involved.

Substantial effort

Highlights the significant level of exertion.

Reasonable effort

Suggests an effort that is fair and appropriate for the task.

Commensurate effort

Indicates that the effort is proportional to the task or goal.

Due diligence

Indicates a thorough and careful effort, often in a professional context.

Meaningful attempt

Emphasizes the sincerity and purposefulness of the effort.

FAQs

What does "sufficient effort" mean?

"Sufficient effort" refers to an adequate amount of work or energy invested in a task to achieve a satisfactory outcome. The degree of effort that is considered "sufficient" varies with the task's complexity and the desired results.

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

You can use "sufficient effort" to describe the amount of work required for a task. For example, "Achieving the project goals requires "adequate effort" from every team member."

What are some alternatives to "sufficient effort"?

Alternatives include "enough effort", "adequate effort", "considerable effort", or "substantial effort". The best choice depends on the context and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to quantify effort instead of using "sufficient effort"?

Quantifying effort provides more clarity, especially in project management or goal setting. While "sufficient effort" is acceptable, specifying the amount of time, resources, or steps needed enhances understanding and accountability. For example, instead of saying "sufficient effort", specify "dedicate 10 hours a week".