sufficiently competent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficiently competent" is correct and can be used in written English in various contexts.
It means that someone or something possesses enough skill, knowledge, or ability to perform a task or fulfill a role effectively. For example: - The candidate's qualifications and experience make him sufficiently competent for the job. - The lawyer was not considered sufficiently competent to handle the complex case. - The new employee was not sufficiently competent in using the computer software, so she was given additional training. - The team of engineers was deemed sufficiently competent to design and build the new bridge. - It is important for teachers to ensure that their students are sufficiently competent in basic math skills.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Nicholls, Breisner and the Hills are agreed that she is sufficiently competent to tackle the famous course amid 23 other horses and jockeys.

The Guardian - Sport

A fan added in the comments: "The real blame lies entirely with those abject Indian chicken farmers, the Venkys, and those members of the FA who deemed these idiots sufficiently competent to own a team in English football.

The New York Times

Undecided voters saw him as sufficiently competent, and they warmed to the idea of seeing him on their television screens for the next four years rather than the hectoring Mr. Carter.

The New York Times

Over the past century, far too few American or European adventurers, administrators, and peacemakers were, or are, sufficiently competent in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Wolof, Hausa, Swahili, Arabic, or Ivrit to have any real clue as to what their interlocutors wanted or needed.

The New Yorker

A local anti-natalist holds that prospective parents who believe they will not be sufficiently competent should not procreate (Cassidy 2006).

SEP

The informants emphasize collaboration and respect between the different domains, with the exception of those who are not considered sufficiently competent.

Sexologies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Different loading conditions corresponding to gravity and wind forces have been applied on typical TCT panels and the results point out that TCT is sufficiently mechanically competent to be used as a curtain wall.

Engineering Structures

However, there were some cases in which mentors felt they were not sufficiently confident or competent to conduct procedures, such as cervical cancer screening or IUCD insertion.

BMC Health Services Research

While acknowledging many of the arguments above, some have argued that although there are some children who are competent and sufficiently mature, it makes pragmatic sense to have a single age threshold the most common is 18 years of age.

Archives of Disease in Childhood

"What we said is that people should provide data and code and that the data and code should be sufficiently well annotated that a competent statistician could replicate the main results in the paper".

Science Magazine

Philosophy apparently only concerns the latter: intuitions of competent participants operating in sufficiently ideal conditions where only semantic (as opposed to pragmatic) considerations matter (2007, 97).

Erkenntnis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sufficiently competent", ensure the context clearly defines the specific skills or abilities that are being assessed. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "sufficiently competent" when the individual or entity demonstrably excels. Opt for stronger terms like "highly skilled" or "expert" to accurately reflect their capabilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficiently competent" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree to which someone or something possesses the necessary skills or abilities. Ludwig AI provides examples where this phrase qualifies individuals, teams, and even technologies. The term indicates a level of competence that meets a specific requirement or standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficiently competent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase that assesses whether someone or something possesses the minimum required skills for a task. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous real-world examples shows that this phrase is most frequently used in Science, News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. The phrase conveys an objective assessment and is best suited for neutral to formal registers. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the skills being assessed and that you are not overstating competence. Alternative terms like "adequately qualified" or "suitably skilled" can offer nuanced alternatives based on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequately qualified

Focuses more on meeting specific qualification requirements rather than a general level of competence.

suitably skilled

Emphasizes the possession of necessary skills for a particular task.

reasonably capable

Suggests a moderate level of ability, perhaps with room for improvement.

appropriately proficient

Highlights the level of skill being suitable for a given situation or role.

acceptably adept

Implies that the level of competence is good enough to meet expectations or standards.

passably experienced

Focuses on having enough experience, rather than inherent ability.

functionally effective

Highlights the ability to perform a function effectively, even if not perfectly.

serviceably able

Suggests a basic level of ability that is enough to get the job done.

minimally trained

Emphasizes that the person or thing has undergone the minimum level of training

fairly knowledgeable

Focuses on possessing an adequate level of knowledge on a particular topic.

FAQs

How can I use "sufficiently competent" in a sentence?

You can use "sufficiently competent" to describe someone or something that meets the minimum requirements of skill, knowledge, or ability for a specific task or role. For instance, "The candidate was "sufficiently competent" to handle the responsibilities of the position".

What are some alternatives to "sufficiently competent"?

Alternatives include "adequately qualified", "suitably skilled", or "reasonably capable". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "sufficiently competent" and "highly competent"?

Yes, "sufficiently competent" implies meeting a minimum standard, while "highly competent" suggests exceeding expectations and demonstrating a high level of skill or ability.

When is it appropriate to use "sufficiently competent" versus a more descriptive term?

Use "sufficiently competent" when you want to convey that someone meets the basic requirements or expectations without necessarily implying exceptional skill. If you wish to emphasize exceptional skill, consider terms such as "expert", "highly skilled", or "exceptionally talented".