a lack of affordable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lack of affordable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the absence of affordable options or resources in a particular context, such as housing, healthcare, or education. Example: "The city is facing a crisis due to a lack of affordable housing for its residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There is a lack of affordable housing.

The Guardian

"A lack of affordable housing is the root cause.

The Guardian

"It's all about a lack of affordable housing".

The New York Times

The downside: a lack of affordable housing, especially for working-class families.

The New York Times

The result is a lack of affordable housing for many middle-class South Floridians.

The New York Times

Symptoms have been mistaken for root causes – the root is a lack of affordable housing.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This is largely due to a lack of affordable housing," Mrs Foscarinis said.

The Guardian

The number of slums is a direct result of a lack of affordable housing in Lagos.

The Guardian

A lack of affordable housing is one reason that New York's homeless population is breaking records.

The New York Times

The problem is compounded by a lack of affordable financing, according to Mr. Perrotis.

The New York Times

At the least, a lack of affordable housing implies a long commute for the working poor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues, use "a lack of affordable" to highlight the broader societal problem rather than individual cases. For example, "a lack of affordable housing" is a better descriptor than "affordable housing is lacking" when addressing the housing crisis.

Common error

Avoid using "a lack of affordable" simply as a more verbose way of saying something is expensive. Instead, reserve it for situations where the unavailability of reasonably priced options creates a tangible barrier or hardship. It is not a simple stylistic variation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lack of affordable" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the absence or insufficiency of affordable resources, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples, which often link this lack to negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lack of affordable" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the insufficient availability of resources that are within financial reach. According to Ludwig, it functions to highlight deficiencies in areas like housing, childcare, and healthcare, primarily within news and media contexts. Alternatives include phrases like "scarcity of affordable" and "shortage of affordable". While versatile, it's important to reserve its use for genuine systemic issues rather than simple cost descriptions. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is usable and correct in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcity of affordable

Replaces "lack" with "scarcity", emphasizing the limited availability.

shortage of affordable

Substitutes "lack" with "shortage", highlighting the insufficient amount.

paucity of affordable

Replaces "lack" with "paucity", suggesting a small or insufficient quantity.

dearth of affordable

Uses "dearth" instead of "lack", indicating a scarcity or lack of something.

insufficient affordable

Replaces "a lack of" with "insufficient", directly stating inadequacy.

limited affordable

Highlights the restricted amount of affordable options available.

inadequate affordable

Indicates that the available affordable options are not good enough or sufficient.

unavailability of affordable

Focuses on the absence of affordable choices.

deficiency of affordable

Emphasizes the shortage or incompleteness of affordable resources.

limited access to affordable

Highlights the restricted ability to obtain affordable resources.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lack of affordable" to describe situations where there are not enough options that are reasonably priced. For example, "a lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness" or "a lack of affordable childcare prevents many parents from working".

What are some alternatives to saying "a lack of affordable"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "scarcity of affordable", "shortage of affordable", or "insufficient affordable".

Is it better to say "a lack of affordable options" or "affordable options are lacking"?

While both are grammatically correct, "a lack of affordable options" often carries more weight when addressing systemic issues. "Affordable options are lacking" is more suitable for describing specific instances.

What is the difference between "a lack of affordable housing" and simply saying "housing is expensive"?

"A lack of affordable housing" implies that there is an insufficient supply of housing that is within the financial reach of a particular group, suggesting a broader problem than just high prices. Simply saying "housing is expensive" only addresses the cost, not the underlying availability.