sufficient to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficient to work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something meets the necessary requirements or conditions to function or be effective. Example: "The resources provided are sufficient to work on the project without any additional support."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

She is now enrolled in an English course, but her language skills aren't yet sufficient to work for an American firm.

The Guardian

"We believe the provision we've taken to be prudent and sufficient to work through all the issues that we've identified, but of course that work's ongoing".

Independent

4. As consumption accelerates everywhere and world population rises, it is no longer sufficient to work towards a distant ideal of sustainable development.

The New York Times

According to a confidential deposition from a friend of Hoffman's, the police made it clear that run-of-the-mill pot busts wouldn't be sufficient to work off her charges.

The New Yorker

It turns out that it is sufficient to work with the maps X k.

Complex Analysis and its Synergies

Facebook started by using open source tools for this purpose, but soon found (as it often does), that these tools were not sufficient to work at Facebook scale.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

And look to see if rival managers have now had sufficient time to work out Tony Popovic's system and approach.

The Guardian - Sport

Nursery staff need higher levels of training and sufficient resources to work with families as well as children.

The Guardian

With large areas of jungle still intact in Madhya Pradesh, and plans for wildlife corridors between parks advancing, there is hope that a new eco-tourist approach will have sufficient animals to work with.

The Guardian - Travel

But while Google worked with libraries, they neglected to invest sufficient efforts to work with publishers and authors who own the copyrights to many of these books.

Huffington Post

I was one Vietnam Vet that found his presence among the closest Clinton advisors to be sufficient grounds to work tirelessly, if unsuccessfully, for the reelection of President George H.W. Bush.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing required skills or resources, use "sufficient to work" to clearly indicate that they meet the minimum level needed for effective performance. For instance, "The software knowledge was sufficient to work on the database migration".

Common error

Avoid using "sufficient to work" when you actually mean 'excellent' or 'exceptional'. "Sufficient" implies adequacy, not superiority. It's not appropriate when highlighting outstanding abilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficient to work" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun, followed by an infinitive. It indicates that something has reached the necessary level or standard to enable work or operation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sufficient to work" serves to convey that something meets the minimum requirements needed to perform a task or operate effectively. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and can be used across various contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. Although not extremely common, its use is appropriate when you want to emphasize adequacy rather than excellence. It's important to consider the context and avoid using it when a stronger adjective like "excellent" or "exceptional" is more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequate to function

Focuses on the basic ability to perform a task, slightly more general.

enough to operate

Emphasizes having the minimum required for operation, less formal.

capable of performing

Highlights the ability to execute a specific task, more active.

fit for purpose

Indicates suitability for a particular goal or application, idiomatic.

able to manage

Implies the capacity to handle responsibilities or challenges.

competent to execute

Stresses expertise and the power to implement, more professional.

qualified to handle

Highlights credentials and experience, relevant in professional settings.

up to the task

Suggests readiness and preparedness for a challenge, more informal.

equal to the demands

Emphasizes meeting the required standards or expectations.

serviceable for the job

Implies functionality and utility, perhaps with minor limitations.

FAQs

How can I use "sufficient to work" in a sentence?

Use "sufficient to work" to indicate that something meets the minimum requirement for a task. For instance, "The training provided was sufficient to work on the new system effectively".

What's an alternative to "sufficient to work" that conveys a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "adequate to function", "enough to operate", or "capable of performing", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "sufficient for work" instead of "sufficient to work"?

While "sufficient for work" is grammatically correct, "sufficient to work" specifies that something enables working. It is more direct when the focus is enabling an action, in this case, work.

What does "sufficient to work" imply about the quality of the work?

"Sufficient to work" suggests the quality is acceptable given the resources or skills, but not necessarily outstanding. For higher quality, aim for “excellent,” “superior,” or “exceptional,” where applicable.