virtually adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is almost sufficient or satisfactory, but not entirely so. Example: "The resources provided for the project were virtually adequate, allowing us to complete most tasks, but we still faced some challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was no significant difference between the treated and the control groups in terms of preeclampsia incidence, but the investigators noted that the preeclampsia rate in their study was substantially below what had been expected (which is hardly surprising given the hypothesis concerned and the fact that virtually every participant had an adequate or nearly adequate calcium intake).

Dermato-Endocrinology

However, except for data on radiation and prenatal exposure to diethylstilbesterol (DES), there are virtually no human data adequate for quantitative analysis.

Environmental Health Perspectives

This paves the way for the same researchers and others in the field to produce more papers on similar, or in some cases virtually identical research, without adequate review.

BMC Medical Ethics

Most states, although they put massive resources into prosecuting capital cases, put virtually none into guaranteeing an adequate defence.

The Economist

If construction begins in the coming weeks as expected, Atlantic Yards will stand out in a city where 530 construction projects are stalled, sitting lifeless and without adequate financing in virtually every neighborhood.

The New York Times

Mr. Youssouf also explains that virtually all mothers can produce adequate amounts of breastmilk unless they are extremely and severely malnourished.

Unicef

The surface of ceramics without glazing, but with adequate polishing, may be virtually identical to a surface that was glazed in terms of smoothness, but completely different in other characteristics like wear, resistance to abrasion and absorption of pigments [ 1,15].

Acta Odontologica Scandinavica

However, bear in mind that for roughly $10,000 less you can still pick up the virtually identical E320 with its more than adequate V6 and pretty much all the same goodies.

Forbes

it becomes virtually impossible for African governments to pay adequate attention to wildlife conservation and protected area management.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The intake that gets an individual (or a population) up onto the response plateau is, virtually by definition, an intake that is "adequate" for a particular health outcome.

Dermato-Endocrinology

Ascertainment of the primary trial outcome was virtually complete, ensuring that the study had adequate power to detect a meaningful effect on glycaemic control, and minimised risk of attrition bias.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually adequate" when you want to convey that something is almost, but not entirely, sufficient or satisfactory. Be mindful that it implies a slight deficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually adequate" when the subject is truly and fully adequate. The term suggests a near-but-not-quite state, so ensure this nuance aligns with your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually adequate" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a state that is close to being adequate but not entirely so. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is usable, the lack of examples suggests it's not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually adequate" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is close to being adequate, but not quite. Although Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its practical usage is limited, as evidenced by the absence of real-world examples. Consider alternatives like "almost adequate" or "nearly adequate" depending on the context. Use this phrase carefully to accurately convey the intended nuance of near sufficiency without complete fulfillment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost adequate

Replaces "virtually" with "almost", indicating a near state of adequacy.

nearly adequate

Substitutes "virtually" with "nearly", suggesting something is close to being adequate.

practically adequate

Uses "practically" instead of "virtually", implying adequacy in a practical sense.

effectively adequate

Replaces "virtually" with "effectively", suggesting adequacy in effect or outcome.

tantamount to adequate

Indicates a condition that is equivalent to being adequate.

borderline adequate

Implies a state that is just on the edge of being adequate.

approaching adequacy

Describes the act of getting closer to an adequate level.

substantially adequate

Emphasizes a significant degree of adequacy, though not fully.

reasonably adequate

Suggests an acceptable or fair level of adequacy.

sufficient in practice

Highlights that something is adequate when put into use, even if not perfect in theory.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually adequate" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually adequate" to describe something that almost meets the requirements or standards. For example, "The funding was virtually adequate, but we still needed to cut costs."

What are some alternatives to saying "virtually adequate"?

Consider alternatives like "almost adequate", "nearly sufficient", or "practically enough" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "virtually adequate" and "completely adequate"?

Yes, "virtually adequate" implies something is close to meeting requirements but not fully, whereas "completely adequate" means all requirements are fully met. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use the term "virtually adequate"?

It is appropriate when you need to express that something is sufficient for most purposes but may still have some minor shortcomings or limitations.