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Are both of the following sentences grammatically correct? If so, do they have the same meaning?
(1) "I don't know the mechanics of that process enough to opine on it."
(2) "I don't know the mechanics of that process well enough to opine on it."
My instinct when speaking is to use "well enough," but based on its definition, using "enough" alone appears to be synonymous, as both "enough" and "well" here appear to be addressing sufficiency.
Both sentences are grammatically correct. However, from my perspective, they have slightly different connotations.
I don't know the mechanics of that process enough to opine on it.
This sentence implies, to me, that you don't know much, if at all, about the mechanics of that process. The focus of the sentence is about not knowing.
I don't know the mechanics of that process well enough to opine on it.
This sentence implies that you do know at least something about the mechanics of the process, but you don't know them well enough to make an educated comment. Well becomes the focus here.
In general, I would say that the second sentence "sounds" better because it's a slightly more graceful dodge. But both are acceptable, and I doubt people would consciously make that big of a deal about either.
Enough is not the focus in the second case, well is, so it makes a huge difference.
Use whichever you mean to say.
"I don't know the mechanics of that process enough to opine on it." "I don't know the mechanics of that process well enough to opine on it."
Both these sentences have more than one issue. The phrase "don't know" means don't identify and can refer to a topic or people. "Mechanics" can refer to a group of people who repair items or to logistics. "Enough" or "well enough" is redundant to the initial wording "don't know"
So the sentence could be stating you don't know the individuals well enough or you don't know the process.
Consider using a better word for "know" (again know means identify) to reflect your intended meaning.
"I don't have detailed understanding" "I'm not fully proficient" "I don't recall" Next what is the subject that you have problem with "The process" or is it "the mechanics" (a group of people, activities, logistics, methods, implications, impacts, or engineering.)
"I don't fully understand the process logistics to opine on it." Is a concise response.
I found that words like mechanics may be used in certain industries in one country or another but are not universally interpreted the same. Thus I avoid these ambiguous word choices.
