a lack of explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lack of explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you want to express the idea that something has not been adequately explained. For example, "I was disappointed by the speaker's a lack of explanation on the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The biggest problem is a lack of explanation of what the body composition measurements really mean.

The Guardian - Tech

She no longer had the cats, she wrote, with a lack of explanation that was slightly ominous.

The New Yorker

Jaya Chakrabarti, chair of the A Mayor For Bristol campaign, said the government had made it difficult to persuade voters on the doorstep to support city mayors because of a lack of explanation of their powers and costs.

The Guardian

This will potentially leave many thousands of retirees high and dry when navigating the annuity minefield". Most complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Service emerged from a lack of explanation in plain English from a provider about what an annuity is and how it works.

BBC

He criticized the Tempest storyline due to a lack of explanation for the station's original purpose and thought that Juliet's flashbacks were redundant.

Wikipedia

One of the reasons that we look at biased policing complaints so exhaustively is because I think that many of them are an exact symptom of this of a lack of explanation.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Anguish caused by a lack of explanations can make painful situations yet more confusing to navigate.

Huffington Post

Atlanta is full of surrealistic scenes that stretch reality and are characterized by a lack of explanations, leaving viewers to wonder why or how the show landed on such an odd occurrence.

Vice

A lack of explanations underlying reported barriers was identified.

BMC Public Health

A fall may be due to the patient being confused about an unfamiliar environment, which may be due to a lack of explanations in a way the patient could understand.

BMC Health Services Research

Another example of how a lack of clear explanation can lead to a range of policy prescriptions can be taken from ILSAs.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing something for its "lack of explanation", be specific about what aspects require more clarity. For example, instead of saying "the report suffered from a lack of explanation", specify: "the report suffered from a lack of explanation regarding the methodology used to gather the data".

Common error

Avoid using "a lack of explanation" as a generic criticism. Always specify what needs further explaining to make the critique more constructive. Saying "there was a lack of explanation" without context offers no actionable feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lack of explanation" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the absence or deficiency of explanatory information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lack of explanation" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote the absence or deficiency of explanatory information. Ludwig AI confirms that it is suitable for use in written English. It is frequently used in various contexts such as news, science, and general discussions to criticize or point out a need for further clarity. When employing this phrase, it is best practice to be specific about what aspects require more explanation to provide constructive feedback. Related phrases include "an absence of clarification" and "insufficient justification", offering alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an absence of clarification

Replaces "explanation" with "clarification", emphasizing the need for making something clearer.

an absence of details

Focuses on the omission of specific information that would provide a fuller understanding.

insufficient justification

Highlights that the provided reasons or evidence are inadequate.

inadequate elucidation

Uses a more formal term, "elucidation", to denote the failure to shed light on a subject.

a dearth of rationale

Emphasizes the scarcity of a logical basis or reasoning.

limited exposition

Suggests that the presentation or explanation was restricted or incomplete.

a shortage of interpretive material

Indicates that there's an insufficient amount of material available to aid in understanding.

an omission of illustrative information

Points out the absence of examples or supporting data to clarify the subject.

a void of explanatory notes

Highlights the absence of additional information intended to clarify or justify.

a failure to explicate

Focuses on the failure of someone to fully explain or analyze something.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lack of explanation" to point out that something has not been adequately clarified. For instance, "The policy change was met with confusion due to "a lack of explanation" from the management."

What are some alternatives to "a lack of explanation"?

Some alternatives include "an absence of clarification", "insufficient justification", or "inadequate elucidation", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a lack of explanation" or "an absence of explanation"?

Both "a lack of explanation" and "an absence of explanation" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

What does it imply when something has "a lack of explanation"?

It suggests that information is missing, unclear, or insufficient to understand a particular subject or situation fully. It often leads to confusion or misinterpretation.