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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a general missing
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a general missing" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that something is generally absent or lacking, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "There seems to be a general missing of key information in the report."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(5)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
In this paper, we deal with a general missing-data spectral estimation problem for which we develop two nonparametric missing-data amplitude and phase estimation (MAPES) algorithms, both of which make use of the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm.
Science
In general, missing data were present in the data set, but rare.
In general, missing values were far less frequent in the institutionalised sample.
Science
In general, missing data resulted in wider credible intervals due to greater uncertainty around the estimates.
Science
Retest reliability might be low due to the outliers which account for the overall sum and not due the general missing possibility of reproducing the results.
Even Meryl Streep's Golden Globes speech, where she spoke out against Trump mocking a disabled reporter and bullying in general, missed the mark.
News & Media
The governor general missed the Canberra ceremony as he was representing Australia in Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.
News & Media
Called back early in the morning, he spent all of D-day driving across Germany and Occupied France, so Germany's most charismatic general missed the most important day of the war.
News & Media
UNESCO's not very high stock (based in Paris, it is widely seen as one of the least effective of all UN agencies, which is saying something) has fallen further its director-general missed a chance to take a principled stand and to burnish her credentials as a fresh force at the institution.
News & Media
PAGE B9 Russian General Missing The disappearance of a Russian general and new challenges to official casualty figures underscore the difficulties Russian troops are facing in their military campaign to take control of Chechnya.
News & Media
In general a missing gene in one isolate was found in another.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When intending to express that something is generally absent or lacking, opt for phrases like "a general absence" or "a widespread lack" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.
Common error
Avoid using "missing" as a general descriptor for absence. "Missing" typically describes something that was present but is now gone. Use "absence" or "lack" when describing something that is generally not present.
Source & Trust
74%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a general missing" attempts to function as a noun phrase, but it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates it is not standard English. The correct way to formulate this is to use "a general absence" or "a widespread lack".
Frequent in
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "a general missing" is not considered correct in standard written English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. If you intend to convey that something is generally absent or lacking, it's better to use alternatives like "a general absence" or "a widespread lack". These alternatives ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing. Although varied sources are found for "a general missing", favoring grammatically sound alternatives enhances credibility and comprehension.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
a general absence
Replaces "missing" with the noun "absence" to denote a state of being absent.
a widespread lack
Uses "lack" instead of "missing" emphasizing deficiency.
a common deficiency
Substitutes with "deficiency", indicating something is not up to par.
a prevalent shortage
Employs "shortage" suggesting an insufficient quantity.
a typical omission
Replaces with "omission" implying something has been left out.
a universal absence
Uses "universal" to emphasize that something is missing everywhere.
a broad deficit
Replaces with "deficit", highlighting insufficiency, especially in a quantifiable sense.
a notable scarcity
Uses "scarcity" to mean a limited amount or availability is typical.
a general inadequacy
Substitutes with "inadequacy" implying insufficiency or unsuitability.
a consistent lack
Emphasizes the recurring nature of something not being present.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "a general missing" to sound more natural?
Instead of "a general missing", consider using phrases like "a general absence", "a widespread lack", or "a common deficiency" to convey the intended meaning more effectively.
What is a more grammatically correct way to express the idea of something being generally absent?
To express general absence grammatically, use "general absence" or "general lack" rather than "a general missing", which is not standard English.
Is there a difference between "a general missing" and "a general absence"?
"A general missing" is not a standard English phrase. "A general absence" is grammatically correct and describes a state where something is typically not present.
When is it appropriate to use "missing" in a sentence?
Use "missing" when something that was present is now gone or cannot be found, as in "The report is missing key data." or "missing person". It's not appropriate for describing a general state of absence.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
74%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested