a growing paucity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a growing paucity of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an increasing lack or scarcity of something. Example: "In recent years, there has been a growing paucity of affordable housing in urban areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called on developed nations to strive for gains in energy efficiency and to reduce their environmental impact to help protect the world's poor from a growing paucity of electricity and water.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It does, however, add to a growing body of evidence that the paucity of sunlight in the UK for most of the year not only makes us miserable, but could actually be doing us harm.

The Guardian

As the published literature on chemicals in breast milk has grown, there remains a paucity of data on parameters related to infant exposure via breast-feeding, particularly those with a time-dependent nature.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The [A/T]n polymorphism prevalence below 10 repeats is not significantly different from that of monitor loci as evident from the consistent overlap of the bootstrap bands of mean PPML and PPRL (the bootstrap bands for PPRL become wider as repeat number grows, due to a paucity of available loci).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Despite growing use, there is a paucity of evidence-based guidelines and practice standards in the United States to assist clinicians in the initiation and ongoing management of home NIV.

Chest

"Korea is largely a homogenous country and although the population of multi-ethnic Koreans is growing, there's still only a paucity of them, especially with regards to public figures," said Steve Han, the South Korea football reporter for KoreAm Journal.

The Guardian - Sport

Apart from an incomplete understanding of the exact mechanisms by which certain adult progenitor cells, like MSCs, contribute to regeneration, there is a paucity of data about how growing old influences their regenerative potential.

Cell Death and Disease

Some term it a crisis of faith, some an existential loneliness, some a paucity of purpose.

Huffington Post

But there's "still a paucity of Series A and B capital resident in L.A". says Bricault.

TechCrunch

A surfeit of descriptions, a paucity of action.

The New Yorker

You get my drift: a paucity of parades.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a growing paucity of" when you want to emphasize not just a lack, but that the lack is increasing over time. This phrasing is suitable for highlighting trends or emerging issues.

Common error

Avoid using "a growing paucity of" in very casual contexts. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in everyday conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "increasing lack of" or "growing shortage of" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a growing paucity of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes an increasing deficiency or scarcity of something. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a growing paucity of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes an increasing scarcity or lack of something. While it is more formal, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate in news, scientific, and business contexts. Consider using simpler alternatives like "increasing lack of" or "growing shortage of" in more casual settings. The phrase aims to highlight an emerging issue or concerning trend, drawing attention to a developing problem. Although not overly common, the phrase is accurate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing scarcity of

Replaces "paucity" with "scarcity", offering a more common synonym and maintaining the structure.

growing shortage of

Substitutes "paucity" with "shortage", providing a widely understood alternative with a slightly different nuance.

increasing lack of

Uses "lack" as a direct replacement for "paucity", making it a simpler and more straightforward option.

a rise in the deficiency of

Emphasizes the deficiency aspect, adding a bit more formality to the original meaning.

a developing insufficiency of

Replaces "paucity" with "insufficiency", giving a slightly more technical or formal tone.

escalating inadequacy of

Highlights the inadequacy and its increasing nature with a stronger term.

a mounting absence of

Focuses on the absence rather than scarcity, offering a different perspective on the same core idea.

an expanding deficit of

Uses "deficit" to suggest a shortfall, which is a quantitative take on the lack.

a burgeoning want of

Employs "want" to denote a need that is growing, which sounds slightly archaic.

a swelling reduction in

Highlights the shrinking quantity and uses "reduction" to convey the decreasing aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "a growing paucity of" in a sentence?

You can use "a growing paucity of" to describe an increasing scarcity or lack of something. For example, "There is "a growing paucity of" skilled workers in the tech industry."

What's a simpler way to say "a growing paucity of"?

Alternatives include "increasing lack of", "growing shortage of", or "rising deficiency of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a growing paucity of"?

While grammatically correct, "a growing paucity of" can sound overly formal in some situations. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing to ensure it fits appropriately. Simpler language may be more effective in informal contexts.

What is the difference between "a growing paucity of" and "a general lack of"?

"A growing paucity of" implies that something is becoming increasingly scarce, whereas "a general lack of" simply indicates a current deficiency. The former emphasizes a trend or change over time, while the latter describes a static state.