a lack of execution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lack of execution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has not been carried out or implemented effectively. Example: "The project's failure was primarily due to a lack of execution in the planning phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The biggest cause of most failures is a lack of execution, and there is a great deal to execute on in an M&A deal.

Forbes

It was just a lack of execution".

The New York Times - Sports

"There is a lack of execution," Mr. Mack said.

The New York Times

"I don't feel it was a lack of effort, it was a lack of execution," Piazza said.

The New York Times - Sports

Their failure to win, then, came to down to a lack of execution on last-tackle options and, possibly, luck (depending on what colours you wear, that is).

The Guardian - Sport

"This was a 30-point day we turned into 16 points with turnovers and a lack of execution," quarterback Drew Brees said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It is cut out by the Arsenal midfield though so he will have to hope his artistic marks make up for a lack of technical execution.

BBC

Thus, on Thursday, as a lack of offensive execution and production drew the ire of Falcons Coach Brent Danna, it was defensive dominance throughout that still afforded Crescenta Valley a comfortable 13-1 victory against Glendale in the Pacific League Tournament final at Burbank High to wrap up the league crown.

Los Angeles Times

"We kept shooting ourselves in the foot," said Bonds, whose team was victimized by costly penalties, dropped passes and just an overall lack of execution in the early going.

Los Angeles Times

All the creativity that went into its development was undone by a lack of originality in execution.

Harvard Business Review

After investing enormous amounts of time and energy formulating a plan and its associated budget, executives view deviations as a lack of discipline that undercuts execution.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the reasons for a project's failure, use "a lack of execution" to highlight that the plans were good, but the actual implementation was the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "a lack of execution" when the primary issue was poor planning or a flawed strategy. "Lack of execution" implies the plan was sound, but the implementation faltered. If the plan itself was deficient, address that directly.

Linguistic Context

A lack of execution functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the absence of effective implementation as a cause for failure or underperformance, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lack of execution" is a common noun phrase used to describe situations where plans fail due to poor implementation rather than flawed strategy. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, business, and sports contexts. Alternatives such as "poor implementation" or "failure to implement" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using the phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the problem genuinely lies in the execution phase and not in the initial planning or strategy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deficient execution

Similar to the original phrase but uses a more formal adjective.

poor implementation

Focuses on the quality of the implementation process rather than the absence of it.

absence of implementation

Stresses the non-existence of any implementation.

failure to implement

Emphasizes the complete absence of implementation efforts.

flawed implementation

Highlights the errors and imperfections present during the execution phase.

inadequate performance

Highlights the unsatisfactory outcome of actions taken.

insufficient application

Focuses on the lack of adequate application of a skill or plan.

ineffective carrying out

Emphasizes that the execution did not achieve the desired result.

botched execution

Implies that the attempt to execute was poorly managed and resulted in failure.

suboptimal performance

Suggests that the performance was not as good as it could have been.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lack of execution" to describe situations where plans or strategies fail due to poor implementation, for example: "The project's failure was due to "a lack of execution", not a flawed strategy."

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

Alternatives include "poor implementation", "failure to implement", or "inadequate performance" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "lack of execution" or "failure of execution"?

"Lack of execution" is generally preferred in modern usage. "Failure of execution" is grammatically correct but sounds more formal and is less commonly used.

What does "a lack of execution" imply about the underlying plan or strategy?

Using the phrase "a lack of execution" suggests that the plan or strategy itself was sound, but the problem arose in how it was carried out or implemented. It distinguishes the problem from one of planning or strategy.