a marked shortage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marked shortage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or noticeable lack of something, often in contexts such as economics, resources, or supplies. Example: "The region is experiencing a marked shortage of clean drinking water, prompting urgent humanitarian efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

There is also a marked shortage elsewhere of such exceptionally well-crafted and beautifully turned prose, deployed here to brilliant effect with wit and economy.

The Guardian - Books

Over the past several years, funding and general support for these training programs has increased with the realization that there is a marked shortage of clinician-scientists in Canada.

Science Magazine

Last year, amid spiraling inflation that approached 70% on an annual basis, a marked shortage of goods, and escalating insecurity, Maduro reacted to mass protests by arresting opposition leader Leopoldo López, who has since publicly come out and asked for peace, while denouncing his precarious conditions in government installations.

Forbes

Nevertheless, there was a marked shortage of trained health care workers with 0.04 generalist physicians and 0.62 nursing professionals per 1,000 people [ 6].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To place the temporal trends in context, the varicella immunization rates were compared to immunization rates of an older and more widely accepted vaccine, the MMR, that had a similar but less marked shortage problem at about the same time.

BMC Family Practice

In an era when politics has become increasingly bland and middle-class, there is marked shortage of working-class heroes.

The Guardian - Books

This marked shortage of MPI explains the in vitro mannose toxicity found by us here in splenic lymphoid cells from AKR/J leukaemic mice.

British Journal of Cancer

High payouts coupled with marked shortages of high-level security talent, especially around data loss prevention, are putting tremendous pressure on security teams to do more.

Forbes

The increase in the utilisation of health services after the removal of fees put pressure on the availability of drugs and supplies leading to marked shortages.

Human Resources for Health

Although experts have been aware for years that shortages would eventually occur, the analysis represents a marked turnabout in officials' thinking.

The New York Times

Still, the quake and the power shortages that have followed it will leave a marked dent on business activities and company earnings across Japan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marked shortage", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking. This phrase is most effective when the shortage has significant consequences or implications.

Common error

Avoid using "a marked shortage" when the lack is minor or insignificant. This phrase implies a substantial deficiency, so reserve it for situations where the shortage has a noticeable impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marked shortage" functions as a noun phrase, where "marked" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "shortage". It highlights a significant and noticeable deficiency. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a marked shortage" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe a significant deficiency or lack of something. It is most commonly found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While not extremely common, its use is appropriate in professional and neutral registers to convey a clear and objective assessment of a situation. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is lacking and that the shortage has noticeable implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant deficiency

Replaces "marked" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the shortage.

a noticeable scarcity

Substitutes both "marked" and "shortage" with synonyms, altering the tone slightly.

a pronounced lack

Uses "pronounced" to intensify the sense of shortage, replacing "marked".

a considerable deficit

Replaces "shortage" with "deficit", implying an amount is missing.

a distinct absence

Shifts the focus to the absence of something, rather than a shortage.

a glaring inadequacy

Implies the shortage is obvious and problematic.

a critical shortfall

Highlights the severity and urgency of the shortage.

a severe dearth

Uses "dearth" to indicate a significant lack, which is a more formal term.

an acute insufficiency

Replaces "shortage" with "insufficiency", indicating that there is not enough of something.

a troubling deficit

Emphasizes the concerning nature of the deficit, adding a sense of worry.

FAQs

How can I use "a marked shortage" in a sentence?

You can use "a marked shortage" to describe a significant lack of something. For example: "The region is experiencing a marked shortage of skilled workers.".

What can I say instead of "a marked shortage"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant deficiency", "a noticeable scarcity", or "a pronounced lack" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a marked shortage" in formal writing?

Yes, "a marked shortage" is suitable for formal writing. It conveys a clear and professional tone when discussing a significant lack of something.

What is the difference between "a marked shortage" and "a slight shortage"?

"A marked shortage" indicates a substantial and noticeable lack, whereas "a slight shortage" suggests a minor and less significant deficiency. The choice depends on the severity of the lack you want to convey.