a substantial shortage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial shortage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant lack of something, such as resources, supplies, or personnel. Example: "The region is facing a substantial shortage of clean drinking water, which has raised concerns among local authorities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Technical sectors such as finance, data and analysis are showing a substantial shortage of British graduates.

Independent

"There is a substantial shortage of people familiar with Islamic financial principals in Western banks," said Philip Molyneux, head of the business school at Bangor University in Wales, which introduced M.A. and M.S. programs in Islamic banking and finance last year.

The New York Times

When that happens, the lack of attorneys in the pipeline will create a substantial shortage of qualified attorneys.

Huffington Post

The 11 general hospitals had a substantial shortage of doctors according to the LG norms.

Human Resources for Health

In spite of the magnitude of the problem posed by osteoporosis in men, there remains a substantial shortage of information concerning male osteoporosis, especially in Asia.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

SA has a substantial shortage of medical doctors in its rural health facilities as a result of both internal migration (from rural to urban areas) and emigration [ 11].

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Our market now is very strong, with low office vacancies and a substantial housing shortage".

The New York Times

"There's also a substantial labor shortage of qualified security professionals that can actually do the work needed to be done," said Hanley.

TechCrunch

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a substantial water shortage problem where water demand far exceeds the sustainable yields of both conventional and non-conventional water resources.

Applied Water Science

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) has a substantial water shortage problem where water demand far exceeds water resources sustainable yields.

Applied Water Science

Over the past two decades, and especially in the last 5 to10 years, Chinese hospitals have faced a substantial nurse shortage [ 8].

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial shortage", clearly specify what is lacking to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "a substantial shortage of qualified nurses".

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial shortage" when the lack is only minor or temporary. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact when describing genuinely significant shortages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial shortage" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where there is a considerable lack of something, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a substantial shortage" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe a significant lack of something. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable. It's versatile enough to appear in various contexts, particularly in science, news and media, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's best to be specific about what is lacking to avoid ambiguity. While "a substantial shortage" is a good way to emphasize a problem caused by a lack of resources, make sure the phrase is not overused so that it can make an impact when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant deficit

Replaces "shortage" with "deficit" emphasizing a shortfall or deficiency.

considerable lack

Substitutes "substantial" with "considerable" and "shortage" with "lack", highlighting the absence of something.

significant inadequacy

Uses "inadequacy" to describe the shortage, focusing on the insufficient amount.

major scarcity

Emphasizes the rarity and lack of availability using "scarcity".

serious deficiency

Highlights the severity of the shortage by using "serious deficiency".

acute dearth

Replaces both words for a more formal tone, indicating a severe scarcity.

critical shortfall

Emphasizes the urgency and importance of the shortage.

marked absence

Focuses on the clear and noticeable lack of something.

pronounced deficit

Uses "pronounced" to underscore the noticeable nature of the deficit.

severe insufficiency

Emphasizes the inadequacy and severity of the shortage.

FAQs

What does "a substantial shortage" mean?

The phrase "a substantial shortage" indicates a significant or considerable lack of something, implying that the deficiency is noteworthy and potentially problematic.

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

You can use "a substantial shortage" to describe a lack of resources, personnel, or supplies. For example, "The company is facing "a substantial shortage" of skilled workers."

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

You can use alternatives like "significant deficit", "considerable lack", or "major scarcity" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a substantial lacking" instead of "a substantial shortage"?

While "lacking" can describe a deficiency, ""a substantial shortage"" is the more conventional and widely accepted phrase for expressing a significant lack of something. "Substantial lacking" is not grammatically correct.