a lack of harmony

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a lack of harmony' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that two or more people, objects, ideas, opinions, etc. are discordant with each other. For example, "There was a lack of harmony between what the management proposed and what the employees wanted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"If this cannot be achieved – if, while knowledge becomes cosmic, will and feeling remain parochial – there will be a lack of harmony producing a kind of madness, with disastrous effects".

The Guardian - Opinion

Three successive defeats had brought out the critics, some of whom were members of his squad: Thomas Strunz, Mehmet Scholl and Mario Basler had all spoken about a lack of harmony between the players and the manager.

The Guardian - Sport

Subsequently, the finance ministry supported a drop in interest rates to catalyse economic activity, contradicting the CBN and highlighting a lack of harmony on monetary and fiscal policy that – at a time when national debt has risen by 4.71tn naira inside a year – is likely to compound the uncertain nature of the government's policy response.

The Guardian

In short, there is a lack of harmony between what is held at the meta-level and what is held at the object-level.

SEP

Here, we present a review of (i) the advantages and limitations of the use of field plots to measure soil erosion; and (ii) the potential sources of variation in the results obtained due to a lack of harmony between methodological conditions and the processes operating in the environment at different scales.

Earth-Science Reviews

Cheerilee walks her students through Canterlot's sculpture garden, where she shows her class a strange statue of a chimera-like creature known as a Draconequus, a creature that represents discord and a lack of harmony.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

City's fans have reacted with dismay to the sacking with Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, suggesting that any lack of harmony behind the scenes was a side issue.

The Guardian - Sport

Pier Pressure began life as a bona fide new Beach Boys album, until bad intra-group vibes (lack of harmony?) forced Wilson to assume ownership.

Independent

The inability of many Koreans to define stroke correctly may be attributable to the strong influence of traditional Oriental medicine, which defines stroke as 'paralysis by lack of harmony of negativity and positivity' and considers stroke a disease of both the peripheral nervous and cerebrovascular systems [ 15].

BMC Public Health

Technically, these characteristics often result from a static use of harmony, ambiguous tonality, a lack of sharp formal contrasts and of onward rhythmic drive, and a blurring of the distinction between melody and accompaniment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And Cecilia Noble and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith epitomise the lack of harmony even among illegal immigrants.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lack of harmony", ensure that the context clearly identifies the entities or elements that are not in agreement.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "a lack of harmony" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "disagreement" or "tension" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lack of harmony" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it denotes the absence of agreement, accord, or peaceful coexistence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lack of harmony" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the absence of agreement or cohesion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility. It finds application across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions and encyclopedia entries. While appropriate for formal writing, simpler alternatives might be preferable in casual conversation. Key related phrases include "absence of accord" and "disharmony". The phrase carries a neutral-to-formal tone and aims to pinpoint areas of disagreement or friction, which renders it appropriate for analytical and descriptive contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Disharmony

A more concise, single-word alternative emphasizing the absence of harmonious relations.

Absence of accord

This alternative replaces "lack" with "absence" and "harmony" with "accord", maintaining a formal tone.

Lack of agreement

Focuses on the absence of consensus or shared understanding.

State of discord

This alternative emphasizes the presence of disagreement rather than the absence of harmony.

Absence of cohesion

This suggests a lack of unity or integrated structure.

Lack of cooperation

Highlights the absence of collaborative effort or teamwork.

Breakdown in relations

Emphasizes a deterioration or failure in harmonious connections.

Friction between parties

Highlights active conflict or tension among different groups.

Absence of synergy

Focuses on the absence of mutually beneficial interactions.

Conflict of interests

Indicates a direct opposition in goals or needs.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lack of harmony" to describe situations where there is disagreement or discord. For example, "The project suffered from "a lack of harmony" between team members".

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

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "disharmony", "lack of agreement", or "absence of cohesion".

Is "a lack of harmony" the same as "disharmony"?

While similar, "a lack of harmony" is a phrase, while "disharmony" is a single word. Both convey a state of disagreement or absence of harmonious relations, but "a lack of harmony" might provide a slightly more descriptive or nuanced meaning in certain contexts.

In what situations is it best to use "a lack of harmony"?

"A lack of harmony" is suitable for formal writing, academic discussions, and situations where you want to emphasize the absence of agreement or cohesion. It's often used when discussing relationships, policies, or complex systems where elements should ideally work together smoothly.