very insufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

"very insufficient" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe something as very lacking or inadequate. For example, "Our budget is very insufficient to cover the costs of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"They got very insufficient information," he said.

The New York Times

"We have to deal with money, though we know money is very insufficient," comments Count Otto Lambsdorff, the former economy minister who represents the German government in the forced-labour talks.

The Economist

HCP are overall well covered by compulsory vaccinations, whereas VC for non-compulsory vaccinations is very insufficient.

Vaccine

They were asked to rate on a 5-point MOS scale (very good, good, average, insufficient, very insufficient) the coherence between the sound and the computed animation.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

It's beyond me ― the number of inmates and detainees versus staff is very insufficient".

Huffington Post

The coding of gestational age in the years 1974 to 1977 was very insufficient.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The in-demand information on local distribution of pneumococci is still very much insufficient.

Plosone

Voters are asked to grade each candidate as, for example, "Excellent," "Very Good," "Good," "Insufficient," or "Bad".

The New Yorker

"Meanwhile, the consequences of under utilisation of opioids in lower income countries are very serious, with insufficient pain relief for acute and cancer pain".

The Guardian

However, the financial returns from these operations are very low and insufficient to compensate the costs.

Renewable Energy

Thus, medical prophylaxis for headache patients alone very often appears insufficient and additional strategies for these complex patients are urgently needed.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "very insufficient", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and the consequences of that lack.

Common error

Avoid using "very insufficient" when "insufficient" alone adequately conveys the meaning. Overuse can weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very insufficient" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that something is not adequate to meet a particular need or requirement. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very insufficient" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that intensifies the meaning of "insufficient". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business settings, to express a significant lack or inadequacy. While perfectly acceptable, writers should remain mindful of not overusing the phrase to avoid diluting its impact and consider using synonyms like "highly inadequate" or "extremely deficient" for variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly inadequate

This alternative emphasizes the degree of inadequacy, suggesting a significant shortfall.

extremely deficient

This phrase highlights the lack or absence of something to a strong degree.

woefully lacking

This alternative conveys a sense of regret or disappointment about the insufficiency.

seriously inadequate

This phrase underscores the severity of the inadequacy.

pathetically meager

This alternative emphasizes the smallness and inadequacy in a slightly emotional way.

grossly deficient

This phrase suggests that the deficiency is substantial and easily noticeable.

utterly insufficient

This alternative indicates a complete lack of sufficiency.

decidedly inadequate

This phrase conveys a clear and definite sense of inadequacy.

quite unequal

This alternative implies that the amount or level does not meet the requirement.

hardly enough

This alternative expresses a minimal quantity that is not satisfactory.

FAQs

How can I use "very insufficient" in a sentence?

You can use "very insufficient" to describe a quantity or quality that is significantly lacking. For instance, "The funding allocated was "very insufficient" for the project's needs."

What are some alternatives to saying "very insufficient"?

Consider using alternatives like "highly inadequate", "extremely deficient", or "woefully lacking" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "very insufficient" grammatically correct?

Yes, "very insufficient" is grammatically correct. The adverb "very" modifies the adjective "insufficient" to intensify its meaning.

Is there a difference in meaning between "insufficient" and "very insufficient"?

Yes, "very insufficient" implies a greater degree of inadequacy than simply "insufficient". It emphasizes that something is significantly lacking.