a small lack of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small lack of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a minor shortage of something. For example, "The participants of the experiment noted a small lack of safety protocol in the testing facility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To see what you may have missed, SFist has an excellent gallery of the event, and for more great photos, with a small lack of balance in the otherwise pretty funny captions, check out SFCitizen.

Huffington Post

The first mixture component will thus summarize a small lack of fit of π it from the predicted risk built by λ i and ξ t, which is not worthy of further investigation.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As in the rest of Australia, the sector has declined since then due to reduced tariffs, a small market, lack of skills, and a floating Australian dollar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In this month's issue of Vogue, editor Alexandra Shulman argued that the negative reaction "demonstrated a small-minded lack of understanding of women and designer fashion that infuses our culture".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Reasons cited included the space needed for cars, the belief that the front garden was too small, a lack of time and the perception it was hard work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This is obviously neither inclusive nor sustainable, because the country's growth engines are benefiting only a small population, lack economies of scale, only marginally improve labor productivity, and are highly dependent on inbound remittances from millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

Huffington Post

If the real time-scale of the events is not of primary concern, a small friction or lack-of provides the advantage of faster conformational sampling.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

According to a new small study, a lack of sleep may alter your ability to process emotions and keep them in check.

Huffington Post

Other limitations include a small sample size, lack of patient information and the cross-sectional nature of the study.

BMC Cancer

The feeling persists that PSG are playing at their absolute limit and considering they have such a small squad, their lack of injuries has undoubtedly helped.

The Guardian - Sport

And while NZ may be a small economy its lack of red tape and corruption, greater personal freedom and investor protection are proving a big draw for entrepreneurs.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small lack of", ensure that the modifier "small" accurately reflects the degree of the deficiency. This helps in conveying the right level of concern or impact in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a small lack of" when the deficiency has significant consequences. This can downplay the issue and mislead the reader. Use stronger phrasing to accurately reflect the seriousness of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small lack of" functions as a qualifier indicating a minor deficiency or absence of something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It is often used to soften the impact of a negative statement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small lack of" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to denote a minor deficiency or absence. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English. While appropriate in diverse contexts like news reports and scientific publications, the key is ensuring that the "small" accurately represents the deficiency's magnitude. Related phrases include "slight deficiency of" and "minor shortage of", offering subtle variations in meaning. Remember to use this phrase judiciously, avoiding understatement when the consequences are significant. While "a small lack of" is accepted and commonly used, it's important to remember the importance of context when deciding how to use it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight deficiency of

Replaces "lack" with "deficiency" and "small" with "slight", emphasizing a minor shortage.

minor shortage of

Substitutes "lack" with "shortage", highlighting the insufficient amount.

slight absence of

Uses "absence" instead of "lack", conveying a similar meaning with a different word.

limited amount of

Focuses on the restricted quantity rather than the absence.

modest scarcity of

Replaces "lack" with "scarcity" and "small" with "modest", both indicating a limited availability.

slight inadequacy of

Emphasizes that something is not quite sufficient.

small deficit of

Replaces "lack" with "deficit", typically used when referring to numbers and quantities.

partial want of

Uses the more formal "want" in place of "lack", indicating a partial need.

some insufficiency of

Highlights the quality of being insufficient to a certain extent.

limited supply of

Indicates that the amount available is not as great as needed or wanted.

FAQs

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

Use "a small lack of" to describe a situation where something is missing or deficient to a minor extent. For example, "The project suffered from "a small lack of" funding, but we managed to complete it on time."

What phrases are similar to "a small lack of"?

Similar phrases include "slight deficiency of", "minor shortage of", or "slight absence of". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a small lack of" formal or informal?

"A small lack of" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or scientific writing, consider using more precise terminology to describe the deficiency.

What is the difference between "a small lack of" and "a complete lack of"?

"A small lack of" indicates a minor shortage or deficiency, whereas "a complete lack of" implies that something is entirely missing. The former suggests that there is still some presence, albeit insufficient, while the latter indicates total absence.