sufficient people

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficient people" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to a minimum number of people required to do something. For example, "We need at least ten people to volunteer in order to complete the project, so we need to recruit sufficient people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"Not having sufficient people to replace them meant they should have held onto them.

Independent

And we must invest in law enforcement in terms of political support, sufficient people, enough cash and a willingness to create and enforce laws that will work.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Mr Estrada's followers are unlikely ever again to muster the numbers on the streets that would constitute sufficient "people power" to force Mrs Arroyo out of office.

The Economist

This is because of herd immunity, which means that sufficient people are immune so that an infection does not turn into an epidemic.

BBC

If sufficient people bid above my bid, my transaction comes later, after those other transactions that bid higher". Transaction fees are currently running pretty high due to greater volume bumping up against the 1MB limit.

Forbes

There didn’t appear to be sufficient people present to run a capital city, and there were so few cars on Unter den Linden that the traffic lights and the “walk–don’t walk” figures seemed superfluous.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

This place attracts self-sufficient people with quiet tastes.

The New York Times - Travel

We'd be a more culturally secure and culturally self-sufficient people".

The New Yorker

Yes, we have the freedoms of choice and speech, but we are an individualistic and self-sufficient people.

The New York Times

Entrepreneurs do something for society, they create jobs, which create self-sufficient people, which creates healthy communities," Rogers said.

Harvard University

For 5,000 years, the marshlands of southern Iraq were inhabited by these proud, self-sufficient people.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sufficient people", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'sufficient'. Quantify the number or specify the criteria for sufficiency if possible to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "sufficient people" without clearly defining what 'sufficient' means in your specific context. State specific numbers or needed skill sets when relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficient people" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It specifies that there is an adequate or necessary quantity of people to meet a particular need or requirement. As Ludwig shows, it highlights the number of people needed to achieve a desired outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficient people" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys the idea of having an adequate number of individuals for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for general use, though formality can be adjusted using alternative phrases for specific registers. Common contexts include News & Media, Science, and Business, where the need to highlight staffing levels is often necessary. When using this phrase, it's best practice to define what "sufficient" entails in your context, providing numbers or skillsets to avoid any lack of clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequate number of individuals

Replaces "sufficient" with "adequate" and "people" with the more formal "individuals".

enough personnel

Substitutes "people" with "personnel", which is often used in a business or organizational context.

requisite staff

Uses "requisite" to mean required or necessary, and "staff" refers to a group of employees.

ample workforce

Employs "ample" to convey a more-than-sufficient quantity, and "workforce" refers to the total number of workers.

necessary human resources

Replaces "people" with the business term "human resources", emphasizing the individuals as a resource.

required complement of persons

A formal alternative, where "complement" refers to a full or complete number, and "persons" is a formal synonym for people.

the needed individuals

Focuses on the necessity of specific individuals, rather than a general quantity of people.

a quorum of members

Specifically refers to the minimum number of members needed for a group to conduct business.

a critical mass of participants

Emphasizes the minimum number of participants needed for an event or movement to become self-sustaining.

a good number of folks

A more informal alternative, using "folks" as a casual synonym for "people".

FAQs

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

You can use "sufficient people" to describe having enough individuals to complete a task or fulfill a requirement. For example, "We need "sufficient people" to run the event smoothly."

What's a more formal way to say "sufficient people"?

A more formal alternative to "sufficient people" is "adequate number of individuals" or "requisite staff", which are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "sufficient people" the same as "enough people"?

"Sufficient people" and "enough people" are often interchangeable, but "sufficient" implies a minimum requirement has been met, while "enough" can imply there are just the right amount with none spare. The choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey.

What factors determine whether a group has "sufficient people"?

Factors can include the number of tasks to be completed, the skills required for those tasks, and the time available. The definition of "sufficient" depends on the specific situation and its demands.