virtually enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost sufficient or adequate, but not quite fully so. Example: "The resources we have are virtually enough to complete the project, but we may need a little more funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Democrats have virtually enough votes to appoint their own candidate, somebody like Romano Prodi, a former prime minister, as president.

The New York Times

Havana has a system of shared gardens -- the famous "organiponicos" -- that raise virtually enough fruit and vegetables within the city limits to supply its entire population.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

There are nearly enough guns in the U.S. -- around 300 million -- to arm virtually every man, woman and child.

Huffington Post

Mr. Freedman and other officials at both hospitals said that the combination of the two powerful East Side medical centers would create an institution whose prestige would virtually guarantee enough revenue to keep its medical research alive at a time of deep cuts in both government and private reimbursements for medical care.

The New York Times

Sure enough, virtually the same words are here spoken by the town's redneck sheriff.

The Guardian

But even recreating the brain virtually is not enough for some; they literally hope to pour it into silicon.

The Guardian - Tech

I write a lot about corporate surveillance, both deliberate and de facto, and I feel a bit like Cassandra: for years I have been warning, again and again and again, that ubiquitous sensors (ie the Internet of Someone Else's Things) plus machine learning means that soon enough virtually everything any of us do out in the world will be tracked and monitored.

TechCrunch

It is interesting to speculate whether if people lived long enough virtually everyone would get cancer.

British Journal of Cancer

If looked upon closely enough, virtually no pTyr recognition and regulation event is an exact mirror image of another one in the same cell.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Hadouken! theory, aka 'We've Got Enough Virtual Mates To Be Virtually Famous'.

Vice

The chance that a suitable meteorite could make the journey fast enough is virtually zero.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually enough" to indicate that something is nearly sufficient, but there might be minor shortcomings. Be mindful of the context to ensure the nuance is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually enough" when the subject is genuinely insufficient. This phrase implies near completion or adequacy, so ensure it aligns with the reality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually enough" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. Ludwig AI indicates it signals near sufficiency, but not complete attainment. It serves to qualify the degree to which something is adequate or sufficient.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually enough" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe near sufficiency. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its acceptability. While "almost sufficient" and "practically adequate" serve as similar alternatives, this phrase indicates something is close enough to fulfilling a requirement without being entirely complete. It appears across diverse contexts, predominantly in news, media, and science. When using "virtually enough", make sure that the subject in question is truly nearly adequate to prevent misleading the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually adequate

Retains "virtually" but replaces "enough" with "adequate", offering a slightly different nuance.

almost sufficient

Replaces "virtually" with "almost", slightly reducing the degree of certainty.

nearly sufficient

Similar to "almost sufficient", emphasizing the closeness to being sufficient.

almost adequate

Combines "almost" with "adequate", simplifying the expression.

practically adequate

Substitutes "virtually" with "practically" and "enough" with "adequate", offering a more formal tone.

close to sufficient

Expresses nearness to sufficiency using a different prepositional structure.

essentially sufficient

Highlights the fundamental sufficiency, implying that minor details might be lacking.

effectively adequate

Focuses on the effectiveness of the adequacy rather than the degree of sufficiency.

pretty much enough

Uses a more informal tone with "pretty much" replacing "virtually".

tantamount to sufficient

Emphasizes that the thing has the equivalent effect as being sufficient, without necessarily being completely sufficient.

FAQs

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

Use "virtually enough" to express that something is almost sufficient or adequate, but perhaps not completely. For example: "The funding is "virtually enough" to start the project, but we might need additional resources later."

What's a more formal alternative to "virtually enough"?

A more formal alternative is "practically adequate". This substitute maintains a similar meaning while sounding more professional.

Is there a difference between "virtually enough" and "almost enough"?

"Virtually enough" and "almost enough" are very similar. "Virtually" can sometimes imply a slightly higher degree of certainty or effectiveness than "almost", but the difference is often negligible.

When should I avoid using "virtually enough"?

Avoid using "virtually enough" if the available amount is significantly less than what's needed. The phrase suggests near sufficiency, so it's misleading if the gap is substantial.