work sufficiently

USAGE SUMMARY

'work sufficiently' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to describe the completion of a task or job to an acceptable level. For example, "The team worked sufficiently to finish the project in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

As for the rest, "the grandfather clause would work sufficiently for them.

The New Yorker

To our knowledge, no work sufficiently explained this contradiction between physical oxygen pressure and chemically controlled oxygen pressure so far.

Nature

The machine that was oxygenating my blood then started not to work sufficiently and that was it.

Independent

If men or women work sufficiently hard at weight training, the muscle they build is more efficient, with more mitochondria, which are the cell's energy factories.

The New York Times - Health

With Aretha Franklin, especially, Jerry Wexler did work sufficiently fine to justify the reputation of Atlantic as a company attentive to excellence in black music.

The New Yorker

"The only thing that he would have cared about is that we have great physics talks". "I really appreciate that they find my work sufficiently interesting," Zeilinger said.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Too bad Ms. Glass has not worked sufficiently hard to dramatize her narrative.

The New York Times

We found a "no thanks" worked sufficiently well, which is perhaps a sign of optimism.

The Guardian - Travel

It is clear that, despite sanctions, the policy of containment has not worked sufficiently well to prevent Saddam from developing these weapons.

The Guardian

Joyce was leading a dissolute life at this time but worked sufficiently hard to pass his final examinations, matriculating with "second-class honours in Latin" and obtaining the degree of B.A. on October 31, 1902.

Britannica

Nonetheless the ploy worked sufficiently to drum up a film sale for the concept and, ironically, the comics that were being handed out for free are now selling for $15 on eBay.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "work sufficiently" when you want to convey that effort or a mechanism is performing adequately but not necessarily at an optimal level. It implies meeting a required threshold.

Common error

Avoid using "work sufficiently" when you actually mean "excel" or "work optimally". The phrase indicates adequacy, not superiority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work sufficiently" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something works or performs. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests that something is functioning at an acceptable, though not necessarily optimal, level. Examples found on Ludwig show various applications of this phrase in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work sufficiently" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates an adequate level of performance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is often used to convey that something meets the minimum requirements without necessarily excelling. It appears frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, suggesting a broad applicability. While alternatives like "perform adequately" and "function effectively" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use "work sufficiently" when you mean something is adequately performing its function, and avoid it when describing superior or optimal performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perform adequately

Replaces "work" with "perform" focusing on the action of carrying out a task with enough skill.

function adequately

Replaces "work" with "function", emphasizing the operational aspect of achieving results.

operate effectively

Replaces "work sufficiently" with a phrase that highlights successful and efficient operation.

achieve enough

Focuses on attaining a satisfactory level of achievement rather than the process of working.

suffice

A single word that directly expresses the idea of being adequate or enough.

measure up

This idiomatic phrase means to meet the required standard or expectation.

cut the mustard

An idiomatic expression indicating that someone or something is capable enough.

be up to scratch

An idiomatic phrase meaning to be satisfactory or of an acceptable standard.

do the trick

An informal expression indicating something is effective or adequate for a particular purpose.

meet requirements

Highlights the act of fulfilling specific needs or criteria.

FAQs

How can I use "work sufficiently" in a sentence?

You can use "work sufficiently" to indicate that something is functioning at an acceptable level. For example, "The new policy needs to "function effectively" to address the issue."

What are some alternatives to "work sufficiently"?

Some alternatives to "work sufficiently" include "perform adequately", "function effectively", or "suffice".

Is it better to say "work sufficiently" or "work effectively"?

"Work sufficiently" implies that something is just adequate, whereas "work effectively" suggests a higher level of performance. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual performance level.

What's the difference between "work sufficiently" and "work adequately"?

The phrases "work sufficiently" and "work adequately" are very similar in meaning, both suggesting a satisfactory but not necessarily outstanding level of performance. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.