a conspicuous lack of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a conspicuous lack of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a noticeable absence or deficiency of something in a particular context. Example: "The report highlighted a conspicuous lack of evidence to support the claims made by the witnesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I noticed this because there was a conspicuous lack of fans anywhere else in the conspicuously not air conditioned apartment.

Columbia University

There is a conspicuous lack of chardonnay.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There was also a conspicuous lack of leadership.

Columbia University

However, there has been a conspicuous lack of calculations in complex two- and three-dimensional geometries.

Journal of Computational Physics

And until now, there has been a conspicuous lack of evidence to counter this argument.

Columbia University

One difference from today, he said, was a conspicuous lack of secrecy in these matters.

The New York Times - Science

This is, in other words, a story with a conspicuous lack of heroes.

The New York Times - Books

The chief hallmark of his playing was a conspicuous lack of schmaltz.

The New York Times - Arts

In keeping with the past neglect of these constituencies, there is a conspicuous lack of data on migrant voters.

The Washington Post

There were reports of someone, possibly French, being shot, but there was a conspicuous lack of French resistance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead of collective thunder and fury up front, too, there was a conspicuous lack of consistent power.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a conspicuous lack of", ensure the absence is genuinely noticeable and relevant to your argument. Avoid using it for minor or unimportant details.

Common error

Avoid using "a conspicuous lack of" when the absence is already implied or understood. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a conspicuous lack of" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies and emphasizes a noticeable absence or deficiency. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a conspicuous lack of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed noun phrase used to emphasize a noticeable absence or deficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for a range of formal and informal writing contexts. While alternatives like "a noticeable absence of" exist, "a conspicuous lack of" effectively highlights the importance of what is missing. Writers should ensure the absence is indeed significant to justify its use and avoid redundancy. Its widespread use across news, academic, and scientific sources attests to its versatility and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a noticeable absence of

Replaces "conspicuous lack" with "noticeable absence", simplifying the wording while retaining the core meaning.

a clear deficiency in

Substitutes "lack" with "deficiency", offering a more formal tone and emphasizing inadequacy.

a marked shortage of

Replaces "lack" with "shortage", highlighting the insufficient amount of something.

a striking absence of

Emphasizes the unexpectedness or impressiveness of the absence.

a blatant dearth of

Uses "dearth" for a more literary or emphatic way to express scarcity.

a palpable absence of

Focuses on how easily sensed or felt the absence is.

an obvious inadequacy of

Shifts the focus to the resulting inadequacy rather than the absence itself.

a glaring omission of

Specifically points out something that should have been included but was not.

a profound insufficiency of

Highlights the severe degree to which something is not enough.

a patent unavailability of

Emphasizes the clear and undeniable lack of access or presence.

FAQs

How can I use "a conspicuous lack of" in a sentence?

Use "a conspicuous lack of" to highlight a noticeable absence or deficiency. For example, "There was a conspicuous lack of evidence to support the claims."

What's a good alternative to "a conspicuous lack of"?

You can use alternatives like "a noticeable absence of", "a clear deficiency in", or "a marked shortage of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a conspicuous lack of" or "conspicuously lacking"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "a conspicuous lack of" is a noun phrase that emphasizes the absence, while "conspicuously lacking" is a participial phrase that describes something missing. The choice depends on your sentence structure and emphasis.

What does "conspicuous" mean in "a conspicuous lack of"?

In this context, "conspicuous" means easily noticeable or obvious. The phrase indicates that the absence or deficiency is readily apparent.