What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
plenty
Example
There was plenty of food at the party, so everyone could have seconds. [plenty: noun]
Example
She had plenty of time to finish the project before the deadline. [plenty: adjective]
adequacy
Example
The hotel room had all the basic amenities and was adequate for our needs. [adequate: adjective]
Example
He demonstrated an adequate understanding of the subject matter during the exam. [adequate: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Plenty is more commonly used than adequacy in everyday language. Plenty is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while adequacy is more commonly used in formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between plenty and adequacy?
Adequacy is typically associated with a formal or technical tone, while plenty is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.