a big omission

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big omission" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant or important piece of information that has been left out or not included. Example: "The report had a big omission regarding the financial projections, which could impact the decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But this was a big omission.

The New York Times - Sports

François Truffaut, 1973 Recommended by: blessoa, Douglas Fraser and Drjonty Truffaut's tribute to Hollywood was a big omission from our original list for many readers.

The Guardian - Film

"This product seems to have all the right features in as far as it goes but there is a big omission - the interest rate.

The Guardian - Money

The absence of a net lending agreement was highlighted as a big omission by Labour, but Treasury officials said the lending deal showed Osborne had played hard ball, adding that "the £10bn figure was way above expectations".

The Guardian

It's a very good stab at a virtual keyboard, and you can toggle keyboard click sounds on and off, but the very fact that the screen is finally big enough to touch-type on means that the absence of tactile feedback when you hit a key is a big omission.

The Guardian - Tech

That's a big omission, in my opinion.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A rather big omission if your stated goal is "understanding what the phrase 'one nation under God' might mean," no? SHEILA KEENAN Ocean Grove, N.J., March 23 , 2004

The New York Times

A tax which could bring in between 35 and 350 billion dollars per year seems like a pretty big omission, when you consider that adds up to between $350 billion and $3.5 trillion over a ten year budget.

Huffington Post

Alfa's six-speed, dual-clutch transmission (now with a launch-control mode) nests beside the engine, but the big omission is a mechanical locking differential to help the car track around a curve.

BBC

Finally, a big, egregious omission from the NYT's list: Full Employment, as I discuss here and wrote a book about here (with Dean Baker).

Huffington Post

The big omission is the need for a collective and comprehensive strategy for residential child care.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a big omission", ensure the context clearly indicates what is missing and why it is significant. This helps the reader understand the impact of the omission.

Common error

Avoid using "a big omission" without providing enough context about what exactly is missing. Without context, the phrase can be vague and confusing for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big omission" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant absence or exclusion. Based on Ludwig and its examples, it often serves to highlight a critical aspect that has been overlooked or intentionally left out. It's typically used to draw attention to what's missing and its potential consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big omission" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, indicating something significant that has been left out. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and formal business writing. Alternatives include "a major oversight" or "a significant exclusion". When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what's missing and why it matters to avoid vagueness. The phrase is acceptable for both formal and informal situations, though more precise wording may be preferred in strictly academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major oversight

Focuses on the idea of a mistake or failure to notice something important.

a significant exclusion

Emphasizes the act of leaving something out intentionally or unintentionally.

a glaring absence

Highlights that something is very noticeably missing.

a notable exclusion

Indicates that the omission is worthy of attention or recognition.

a critical oversight

Stresses that the omission has serious implications.

a key exclusion

Points out that the omission involves something fundamental or essential.

a serious lapse

Highlights a failure or error in including something necessary.

a major failing

Emphasizes that the omission represents a significant deficiency.

a substantial gap

Indicates that the omission has created a considerable void or lack.

a regrettable oversight

Shows that the omission is unfortunate and undesirable.

FAQs

What does "a big omission" mean?

The phrase "a big omission" refers to something important or significant that has been left out or excluded from a particular context, such as a report, discussion, or list.

How can I use "a big omission" in a sentence?

You can use "a big omission" to point out a notable absence. For example: "The lack of funding for education was "a big omission" in the government's budget."

What can I say instead of "a big omission"?

You can use alternatives like "a major oversight", "a significant exclusion", or "a glaring absence" depending on the context.

Is "a big omission" a formal or informal expression?

"A big omission" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, you might consider using alternatives such as "a critical oversight" for added emphasis.