would have been sufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have been sufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something was adequate or enough in a hypothetical situation, often in the context of discussing past events or conditions. Example: "If we had received the report on time, it would have been sufficient to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few seconds would have been sufficient Friday.

The New York Times

"No amount of money would have been sufficient," he said.

The New York Times

That would have been sufficient for any C.E.O.

The New York Times

So a 3-3 clubreakak would have been sufficient.

The New York Times

Even local variations in received radiation would have been sufficient to begin fires.

University of California, Berkeley

Any one flaw would have been sufficient to invalidate a ballot.

The New York Times

Hogan's lawyers suggested that a written description would have been sufficient and protected.

The New Yorker

On the other hand, it's possible that no amount of flattery would have been sufficient.

The New York Times - Magazine

Oracle boss Russell Coutts has since quietly acknowledged that 52-footers would have been sufficient.

Independent

Just 21 additional Republican votes would have been sufficient for passage.

The New York Times

And that would have been sufficient to produce a Russian victory, pushing Weinstein and Levin down to fourth.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have been sufficient" when discussing hypothetical past scenarios where something met the necessary requirements or standards. It adds a layer of conditionality to the statement.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly passive sentences with "would have been sufficient". Instead, try rephrasing to highlight the actor or cause, making the sentence more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have been sufficient" functions as a conditional expression indicating that something could have met a specific requirement or standard in a past hypothetical scenario. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would have been sufficient" is a versatile expression used to describe hypothetical scenarios where something could have met a specific need or requirement. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently across various domains, from news and media to scientific research. While alternatives like "would have been enough" or "would have sufficed" exist, "would have been sufficient" offers a nuanced way to evaluate past situations and consider alternative outcomes. Remember to use it when you want to express that something could have been adequate under different circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have been adequate

Replaces "sufficient" with "adequate", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly different word choice.

would have been enough

Uses "enough" instead of "sufficient", providing a simpler and more common alternative.

would have sufficed

Replaces "been sufficient" with the single word "sufficed", making the phrase more concise.

would have been satisfactory

Substitutes "sufficient" with "satisfactory", indicating that the outcome would have met expectations.

would have been ample

Replaces "sufficient" with "ample", suggesting there would have been more than enough.

would have been suitable

Uses "suitable" instead of "sufficient", implying appropriateness for a specific purpose.

would have been acceptable

Replaces "sufficient" with "acceptable", indicating that the situation would have been permissible.

would have met the requirements

Expresses the idea of sufficiency by stating that the requirements would have been fulfilled.

would have done the trick

An idiomatic alternative implying that something would have been effective or successful.

would have passed muster

Another idiomatic alternative indicating that something would have met the necessary standards or approval.

FAQs

How can I use "would have been sufficient" in a sentence?

You can use "would have been sufficient" to express that something was enough or adequate in a past hypothetical situation. For example, "A simple apology "would have been sufficient" to resolve the conflict".

What are some alternatives to "would have been sufficient"?

Alternatives include "would have been enough", "would have sufficed", or "would have been adequate" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "would be sufficient" instead of "would have been sufficient"?

The phrase "would be sufficient" is used for present or future hypothetical situations, while "would have been sufficient" refers to past hypothetical situations. Using the correct tense is crucial for clarity.

What's the difference between "would have been sufficient" and "was sufficient"?

"Was sufficient" indicates that something actually met the requirements, while "would have been sufficient" implies a hypothetical situation where something could have met the requirements if certain conditions were met.