was just sufficient for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was just sufficient for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something met a minimum requirement or need, but no more than that. Example: "The funding provided was just sufficient for the initial phase of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Overall, 65 people were arrested and 50 injured.The trouble was just sufficient for the police to claim that their tactics had been justified.

The Economist

This force was just sufficient for the stylus of the cantilever to remain in contact with the surface during the scanning process.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the crisp methods, the measured data are just sufficient for unique characterization of the source.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Early Feeding assumes that bears can only accumulate storage energy until the end of May (that is, during, and shortly after, seal pupping33,34,35) and that feeding during the remaining on-ice period is reduced to rates that are just sufficient for bears to maintain acquired body mass.

Nature

In this regard, the availability required is just sufficient for triangulation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

I found the official Disneyland app to be just sufficient for maps and wait times, restaurant choices and menus, etc.

TechCrunch

However, it must be noted that the small sulfinic acid signal detected in this study is likely only present in concentrations that are just sufficient for detection.

ACS Chemical Neuroscience

The emphasis is on process output and the amount of detail used, as in pragmatic engineering, is just sufficient for describing the bioprocessing task in hand.

Genome Medicine

This method briefly displays a spaced array of dots that mark the outer boundary of the shape, the number of dots being just sufficient for recognition of the shape if all of them are shown with minimal delay.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

This number of health workers was chosen as being just sufficient for the purpose of factor analysis (53), whilst also in keeping with the number of participants in the study overall.

Global Health Action

At the percolation threshold, there is just sufficient contact for the material to be conductive.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was just sufficient for", ensure that the context clearly indicates whether the level of sufficiency is acceptable or if a higher level would be preferable. This phrase often implies a minimal level of adequacy, so consider whether a stronger term would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "was just sufficient for" when the level of sufficiency was actually more than adequate. This phrase implies a minimal threshold, so using it in situations where there was ample capacity or resources can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was just sufficient for" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of something in relation to meeting a certain requirement or need. It qualifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that it barely met the minimum necessary standard. As Ludwig AI shows, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was just sufficient for" indicates that something barely met a minimum requirement or need. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, including science, news and media. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, remember that it conveys a sense of minimal adequacy, so choosing a more descriptive term may be beneficial if you intend to express more than just bare minimum accomplishment. Alternatives include "was merely adequate for" or "sufficed for". Be mindful not to use this phrase when sufficiency exceeds the minimal level.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was merely adequate for

Replaces "just sufficient" with "merely adequate", indicating a minimal level of sufficiency.

was barely enough for

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something met a requirement.

was only adequate for

Highlights that something was adequate, but nothing more.

was the minimum needed for

Directly states that the amount was the least required.

was simply adequate for

Similar to "only adequate", but with added emphasis on simplicity.

was scarcely adequate for

Indicates a near insufficiency, close to not meeting the requirement.

sufficed for

A more concise way of saying something was enough.

proved adequate for

Emphasizes the result or outcome of being adequate.

was acceptable for

Indicates that something met a basic standard of acceptance.

met the basic requirements for

Specifies that the minimum requirements were fulfilled.

FAQs

What does "was just sufficient for" mean?

It means something barely met the minimum requirement or need, but not more than that. It implies a minimal level of adequacy.

What can I say instead of "was just sufficient for"?

Alternatives include "was merely adequate for", "was barely enough for", or "sufficed for", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "was just sufficient for" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal options might exist for specific situations.

How do I use "was just sufficient for" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where something barely meets a requirement, such as: "The funding "was just sufficient for" the initial phase of the project."