sufficiently equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficiently equal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that two or more things are equal to a satisfactory or adequate degree. Example: "The two proposals were sufficiently equal in quality, making it difficult to choose one over the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Military writers usually confine the term to hostilities in which the contending groups are sufficiently equal in power to render the outcome uncertain for a time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What one can do is take people's variously valuable personal talents into account in determining how material resources should be distributed so as to achieve an overall distribution that should register as (sufficiently) equal.

SEP

It therefore fails to ensure for all citizens enough resources to have even roughly equal chances of influencing politics, or to have sufficiently equal opportunity in education and employment.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But lawyers in the case filed yesterday argue that the state's efforts to dictate new academic standards from the top have not sufficiently insured equal treatment for minority students.

The New York Times

5.1, we discuss the case of full synchronization with no doublets, which corresponds to equal, sufficiently large values of η j.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

However, this is based on the assumption that an appropriate motor response with a sufficiently low electrical charge equals adequate positioning of the catheter tip.

BMC Anesthesiology

More generally, the attraction of any body at a sufficiently great distance is equal to that of the whole mass at the centre of mass.

Britannica

The whole domain is governed by a version of the Archimedean principle to the effect that zero is the only quantity incapable of being multiplied sufficiently many times to equal any given quantity.

SEP

To numerically solve (48) and (49), all of the surfaces, which because of the assumption of longitudinal symmetry of the problem, are one dimensional domains, are divided into sufficiently small intervals of equal length and the q(x) is assigned on the nodes q(x i ).

Pacific Journal of Mathematics for Industry

Watson found that thresholds of motion detection and motion discrimination in healthy subjects are equal at sufficiently low spatial frequencies (e.g. 2 cpd) for both slow (1.5 Hz) and fast (12.4 Hz) movement of the test pattern [ 63].

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

A few justices did not find the trade-off sufficiently compelling to outweigh the equal protection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sufficiently equal" when you want to convey that items are equal to a degree that meets a specific requirement or standard, rather than being perfectly identical.

Common error

Avoid using "sufficiently equal" when a stronger term like "identical" or "equal" is more appropriate. Ensure the context genuinely implies a level of equality that is 'good enough' rather than perfect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficiently equal" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates that something meets a certain threshold of equality, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficiently equal" is a phrase used to indicate that things are equal to a degree that meets a specific requirement or standard. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in English. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts and offers a nuanced way to describe equality, distinct from terms like "identical" or "exactly equal". Use it when you want to convey that a certain threshold of equality is achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequately equivalent

This alternative emphasizes that something is equal to a degree that is good enough for a specific purpose, with a slightly stronger focus on practical suitability.

reasonably comparable

This alternative highlights the aspect of being able to compare two things because they are equal to a fair degree. Focuses on the aspect of comparability.

acceptably similar

This suggests that the level of equality is good enough to be accepted, it's more permissive and focused on acceptance rather than strict equality.

virtually identical

This suggests a very high degree of similarity, almost but not quite completely the same. A stronger degree of equality.

roughly equivalent

Highlights an approximate equality, where things are not exactly equal but similar enough for practical purposes.

substantially alike

Emphasizes that the items being compared are alike in most important respects, even if minor differences exist. Focus on the substantial aspects.

fairly uniform

Suggests a consistency or evenness across a set of things. Highlight aspects like consistency and regularity.

nearly the same

Indicates a close resemblance, lacking only minor differences to be completely equal.

comparably close

Focuses on the closeness of the comparison, suggesting that the items are close enough in value or characteristic to be compared directly.

similarly matched

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of correspondence and similarity, indicating that items align well with each other.

FAQs

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

You can use "sufficiently equal" to describe situations where items or qualities are similar to an adequate degree, such as "The two solutions were "sufficiently equal" in their effectiveness for the project to proceed".

What are some alternatives to "sufficiently equal"?

Consider using phrases like "adequately equivalent", "reasonably comparable", or "acceptably similar" depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "sufficiently equal" or "approximately equal"?

The choice depends on the context. "Approximately equal" indicates a rough similarity, while "sufficiently equal" suggests that the equality meets a specific need or requirement. If precision is not crucial, "approximately equal" might suffice, but if adequacy is key, "sufficiently equal" is more appropriate.

Can "sufficiently equal" be used to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, "sufficiently equal" can describe abstract concepts, such as "The arguments presented were "sufficiently equal" in persuasiveness, making it difficult to choose a side".