a severe deficiency of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe deficiency of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant lack or shortage of something, often in a formal or academic context. Example: "The study revealed a severe deficiency of essential nutrients in the participants' diets."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Blood tests revealed a severe deficiency of potassium, which plays an important role in muscle functioning.

The New York Times - Health

The blood tests they ordered revealed that the patient had a severe deficiency of vitamin B6.

The New York Times

That George W. Bush failed to rush back to the White House from his vacation in Crawford, Tex., to demand to know what, in particular, was being done to prevent potential hijackers from boarding planes shows at least a severe deficiency of curiosity, if not sensitivity, perhaps both.

The New York Times

Herman Cain declared that the "pursuit of happiness is under attack" and repeated his popular line that the biggest crisis facing America is a "severe deficiency of leadership crisis in the White House".

The New York Times

"We've got an economic crisis," he said, "we've got a national security crisis, we've got an entitlement spending crisis, an energy crisis, an illegal immigration crisis, a foggy foreign policy crisis, a moral crisis, and the biggest crisis we have is a severe deficiency of leadership crisis in the White House.

The New York Times

A significant nutritional problem in preterm infants is a severe deficiency of arginine (hypoargininemia), which results in hyperammonemia, as well as cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and intestinal dysfunction.

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

We observed a severe deficiency in entry of strain L99 in HeLa and Caco-2 cells as well as poor cell-to-cell transmission with macrophages and L929 fibroblasts when compared to 1/2a EGD-e (data not shown).

BMC Genomics

The Cox regression model included the Child Pugh score, the presence of an infection, and the presence of a severe deficiency in 25-OH vitamin D. In this model, only the presence of an infection was significantly associated with the mortality (relative risk=3.24 (1.2–8.76), P=0.02).

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

The Child Pugh score (as a continuous variable) and the presence of an infection and of a severe deficiency in 25-OH vitamin D (as categorical variables) were integrated into the Cox analyses.

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

We compared the frequency of a severe deficiency in vitamin D (<10 ng/ml) in a monocentric prospective cohort of infected and non-infected hospitalized cirrhotic patients.

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

The presence of a severe deficiency in 25-OH vitamin D was a significant independent factor associated with the presence of an infection (odds ratio=5.44 (1.35–21.97), P=0.017).

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe deficiency of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and the impact of that deficiency. Specificity enhances clarity and strengthens the message.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe deficiency of" when the lack is only moderate. Overstating the deficiency can weaken your argument and undermine credibility. Choose language that accurately reflects the degree of the shortage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe deficiency of" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun. According to Ludwig, it indicates a significant lack or shortage of something. This phrase typically introduces a description of what is missing and its impact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

26%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe deficiency of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a significant lack or shortage, as supported by Ludwig. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of criticality and emphasizes the negative consequences of the deficiency. While versatile, it is important to accurately reflect the level of deficiency to avoid overstatement. Alternatives such as "a critical lack of" or "a significant shortage of" can be used to vary the language while maintaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical lack of

Replaces 'severe deficiency' with 'critical lack', emphasizing the importance of what's missing.

a significant shortage of

Substitutes 'severe deficiency' with 'significant shortage', highlighting the insufficient quantity.

a profound absence of

Replaces 'severe deficiency' with 'profound absence', stressing the complete lack of something.

a marked deficit in

Changes 'severe deficiency' to 'marked deficit', focusing on the notable shortfall.

a serious inadequacy of

Substitutes 'severe deficiency' with 'serious inadequacy', emphasizing the insufficient quality or amount.

a dire scarcity of

Replaces 'severe deficiency' with 'dire scarcity', highlighting the extreme lack and potential consequences.

a crippling want of

Changes 'severe deficiency' to 'crippling want', focusing on the disabling effect of the lack.

a grave impoverishment in

Substitutes 'severe deficiency' with 'grave impoverishment', stressing the severe reduction or depletion.

a drastic curtailment of

Replaces 'severe deficiency' with 'drastic curtailment', highlighting the sudden and significant reduction.

an acute deprivation of

Changes 'severe deficiency' to 'acute deprivation', focusing on the sudden and severe loss.

FAQs

How can I use "a severe deficiency of" in a sentence?

You can use "a severe deficiency of" to describe a critical lack or shortage of something. For instance, "The patient's symptoms indicated "a severe deficiency of" vitamin D".

What are some alternatives to "a severe deficiency of"?

Alternatives include "a critical lack of", "a significant shortage of", or "a profound absence of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "severe deficiency in" or "severe deficiency of"?

"A severe deficiency of" is generally preferred, as it directly connects the deficiency to the thing that is lacking. "A severe deficiency in" is also grammatically correct, but less common.

What are the implications of "a severe deficiency of" essential nutrients?

"A severe deficiency of" essential nutrients can lead to various health problems, including impaired growth, weakened immunity, and cognitive dysfunction. Addressing such deficiencies is crucial for maintaining overall well-being.