a limited commodity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a limited commodity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a product or resource that is not widely available or is restricted in quantity. Example: "Due to the recent supply chain issues, water has become a limited commodity in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Qualified press operators are a limited commodity right now.

The Guardian - Music

Because time is a limited commodity and subject to so many demands, it's all too easy to forget to leave some for yourself.

The Guardian - Money

He exists to be sacked, nourished only by his successes in a sport where success is by definition a limited commodity.

The Guardian - Sport

For its part, BSkyB will take control of Virgin 1's valuable Freeview slot, a limited commodity, and niche basic entertainment channels that complement its traditional Sky sports, film and news channels.

The Guardian

The premise is not that meat provided some indispensable nutritional building block but rather that, as a limited commodity, it exerted a civilizing influence, giving rise to ingenuity (and, one imagines, politics) as people learned to barter and share.

The New York Times - Style

Light, the enlightenment the work seeks, is a limited commodity, used minimally through a bank of 42 television screens that divide and reassemble, at one moment turning into star-spangled columns like Manhattan at night, at another carrying verbal messages, or providing fire and water for Tamino and Pamina's trials.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But public attention is a very limited commodity; it's impossible to actually marshal public attention to each of the individual programmes that get cut when "government" gets cut.

The Economist

Once affected by the virus, the "broken" exotics were an extremely limited commodity because the sought-after "breaking pattern" can only be reproduced through offsets, not seeds, as only the bulb is affected by the mosaic virus.

Wikipedia

Bandwidth is a vastly more limited commodity on mobile networks than fixed, and this will affect pricing and business models.

TechCrunch

"Urban public space is an incredibly valuable and limited commodity, so why do we give up so much of it to its most inefficient user the single-person vehicle?" he asks.A growing number of urban thinkers and planners believe that sneckdowns offer a natural guide to where permanent neckdowns and traffic islands could be built.

The Economist

In a combat setting, it would be preferable to evacuate a casualty who did not subsequently develop a significant complication than to not evacuate one that did, because the latter would require a large amount of resources, which are limited commodities in the deployed setting.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a limited commodity", ensure the context clearly establishes why the item is limited, whether due to scarcity, regulation, or production constraints. This helps strengthen the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a limited commodity" when the item is only temporarily scarce. Using the phrase for everyday items that fluctuate in availability can diminish its impact when describing truly rare or critical resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a limited commodity" functions as a noun phrase, where "limited" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "commodity". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound construction. This construction allows it to serve as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a limited commodity" is a grammatically correct and understandable term used to describe resources or goods that are scarce, restricted or not widely available. Ludwig AI confirms it is commonly found in various reliable sources. As shown by Ludwig examples the usage of this phrase is suitable for neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news, science, and discussions around resource management. When using this phrase, it's best to provide context that clearly explains why the commodity is limited. While grammatically sound and broadly applicable, overusing it for temporary scarcities should be avoided to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "a scarce resource" or "in short supply" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a scarce resource

Replaces "commodity" with "resource" focusing on the limited availability of essential elements.

a restricted supply

Emphasizes the controlled or limited nature of the quantity available.

a finite quantity

Highlights the fixed and exhaustible nature of the item.

a dwindling asset

Suggests a resource that is decreasing over time.

a precious resource

Implies high value due to its limited availability.

a rare find

Highlights the difficulty in obtaining or discovering the item.

in short supply

A common idiom indicating a lack of sufficient quantity.

not widely available

Focuses on the restricted distribution or accessibility.

difficult to obtain

Emphasizes the challenges in acquiring the item.

a controlled substance

Highlights that it is strictly controlled by the government.

FAQs

How can I use "a limited commodity" in a sentence?

You can use "a limited commodity" to describe something that is scarce or not widely available. For example, "In the desert, water is "a limited commodity".".

What phrases are similar to "a limited commodity"?

Similar phrases include "a scarce resource", "a restricted supply", and "in short supply".

Is it correct to say something is "a limited commodity"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct and commonly used to describe resources or goods that are not abundant. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase appears in various reputable sources.

What makes something "a limited commodity"?

Something becomes "a limited commodity" when its availability is restricted due to factors like natural scarcity, production limitations, regulations, or high demand.