that would suffice

USAGE SUMMARY

'that would suffice' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to suggest that something is enough or adequate to fulfill a purpose. For example, "I only need to write a few sentences for this essay - that would suffice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Yet there are only about 250,000 Iraqi returnees and all should have documents from the countries of their exile that would suffice as identification.

The New York Times

The plaintiffs' attorneys had requested financial penalties to coerce Davis into compliance, but Bunning said he "wasn't convinced" that would suffice.

The Guardian

By contrast, baseball just had marvelous pitching from Randy Johnson, Eric Milton, Mike Hampton and Roger Clemens on early May nights that would suffice in October.

The New York Times - Sports

He wanted a memorial that would suffice for Hindu soldiers who had died, Muslim soldiers, Jewish soldiers, Anglican, Catholic, Irish, whatever, people of no belief at all, and he found it.

Yale University

Chievo are most certainly not Liverpool, but it feels necessary to observe that Roma won by a margin that would suffice to see them through to the Champions League semi-finals if they could reproduce it on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Sport

A somewhat-more-complicated version: Mr. Obama is leading in the polls of Ohio and other states that would suffice for him to win 270 electoral votes, and by a margin that has historically translated into victory a fairly high percentage of the time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

So even if one could date the emergence of these two cooperative behaviors (which Dubreuil fails to do, see the second point), that wouldn't suffice as evidence for the emergence of the two higher cognitive traits.

Biology and Philosophy

It was decided that no new board/network was needed for this purpose and that it would suffice for the established organizations in this field to continue working on the topic.

Health Research Policy and Systems

However, as noted above, validity challenges during preliminary injunction proceedings can be successful on evidence that would not suffice to support a judgment of invalidity at trial.

Harvard University

Validity challenges during preliminary injunction proceedings can be successful, that is, they may raise substantial questions of invalidity, on evidence that would not suffice to support a judgment of invalidity at trial.

Harvard University

But if the reader had never been in the driver's seat, that would not suffice.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the tone, "that would suffice" can sometimes imply a minimum requirement has been met.

Common error

While "that would suffice" is generally acceptable, overuse in very formal writing can make your tone sound less assertive. Opt for stronger, more precise language when making formal recommendations or conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that would suffice" typically functions as a statement of adequacy or sufficiency. It indicates that a particular action, object, or amount is enough to meet a specific need or requirement. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

24%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that would suffice" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate adequacy or sufficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in various contexts. It typically serves to state that something meets the required standard without necessarily being exceptional. While versatile, it's important to be mindful of the tone, as it may sometimes imply a minimum requirement has been met. Alternatives like "that should be enough" or "that will be sufficient" may be used for subtle differences in formality or emphasis. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, this phrase proves valuable in expressing that something is 'enough' for a given purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that should be enough

Suggests a pragmatic assessment that something meets a required threshold.

that will be sufficient

More formal and emphasizes capability of fulfilling a need or requirement.

that's adequate

Directly states that something is satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.

that ought to be sufficient

Implies a judgment based on standards or expectations about being enough.

that is satisfactory

Indicates that something meets the required level of satisfaction.

that will do

Less formal, suggesting acceptance of something as being good enough, often with a hint of resignation.

that fits the bill

Idiomatic expression meaning something is exactly suitable for a particular purpose.

that meets the requirement

Focuses specifically on fulfilling a mandatory condition or standard.

that answers the purpose

Emphasizes the functionality of something in achieving a specific goal.

that passes muster

Suggests something has been approved or accepted after scrutiny.

FAQs

How can I use "that would suffice" in a sentence?

You can use "that would suffice" to indicate that something is adequate or enough. For instance, "A brief explanation "that would suffice" for now."

What are some alternatives to "that would suffice"?

Alternatives include "that should be enough", "that will be sufficient", or "that is adequate" depending on the context.

Is "that would suffice" formal or informal?

"That would suffice" falls in a neutral to slightly formal register. It's suitable for most professional and academic contexts, but might sound somewhat stiff in very casual settings.

What does "that would suffice" imply about quality?

"That would suffice" implies that something meets the minimum requirements or is acceptable, but it doesn't necessarily suggest excellence or superiority. It's about adequacy rather than exceptional quality.