absence of documentation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absence of documentation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a lack of written records or supporting materials in a particular context. Example: "The project was delayed due to the absence of documentation regarding the previous phases."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

According to his testimony, its initial review found similar problems, including an absence of documentation for driver training and medical exams.

The New York Times

The judgment goes on to note, under a section called "the implausible absence of documentation" that El Naschie failed to provide any documentary evidence that his papers were peer reviewed.

The Guardian

The most significant weakness is that the absence of documentation of clinical findings in the chart does not necessarily mean that that they were looked for, or indeed, absent.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

In addition, apolipoprotein, which had been classified as non-candidate due to the absence of documentation of its possible involvement in diapause or caste relatedness, was shown to play a role in queen/worker larval divergence.

Plosone

One of these non-candidate genes, apolipoprotein, was a priori suspected of possible involvement in larval divergence because of the known difference of two types of abdominal fat in worker and gyne Polistes, but in the absence of documentation that it plays a role in either of our candidate gene categories, it was placed conservatively as a non-candidate gene.

Plosone

Proportions of patients with absence of documentation of antibiotic prophylaxis fluctuated between 1.8% and 4.8% over the reporting period.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

While the presence of chart documentation has a good positive predictive value for detecting delirium, the absence of chart documentation cannot reliably exclude delirium in an ICU population.

Critical Care

In the absence of official documentation — neither the league nor the union released the proposal publicly — the rumors have prevailed.

The New York Times - Sports

Although details of the timing and manner of such a transmission are obscure because of the absence of explicit documentation, it seems that Western mathematics, while stemming largely from the Greeks, is considerably indebted to the older Mesopotamians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The absence of outbreak documentation before 2007 prevents comparison of outbreak-related actions with later years.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The first quick step minimizes the risk of projects being considered "exempt" from full review in the absence of auditable documentation of minimal, independent review.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "absence of documentation", clearly specify what kind of documentation is missing and why it is important in the given context. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Be careful not to assume that the "absence of documentation" automatically means something did not happen. It simply means there is no record of it. Further investigation may be needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absence of documentation" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a state of lacking formal written records or supporting materials. Ludwig AI confirms this with multiple examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absence of documentation" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a lack of written records. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for use in writing. While "absence of documentation" is understandable in many settings, its register tends towards the formal and scientific. The primary contexts of use are Science, News & Media and Formal & Business domains. Although the phrase itself is valid, ensure to specify what type of documentation is missing and why its absence matters. Alternatives such as "lack of documentation" or "missing paperwork" provide simpler alternatives for less formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of documentation

Replaces "absence" with "lack", a direct synonym, for a slightly more common phrasing.

nonexistence of records

Uses "nonexistence" to emphasize the complete lack of records, changing the focus slightly.

missing paperwork

A more direct and simple way of saying documentation is not present.

no records available

Focuses on the availability of records, highlighting the result of their absence.

dearth of paperwork

Substitutes "absence" with "dearth" and "documentation" with the more informal "paperwork".

scarcity of written evidence

Focuses on the evidentiary aspect using "scarcity" instead of "absence".

shortage of official papers

Highlights the insufficient amount of official papers.

failure to document

Shifts the focus to the act of not documenting, rather than the state of lacking documentation.

want of proof

Replaces "documentation" with "proof" and "absence" with "want" for a more concise, legalistic tone.

unsubstantiated claims

Highlights that claims are not backed up, which is a consequence of lacking documentation.

FAQs

What does "absence of documentation" mean?

The phrase "absence of documentation" refers to the lack of written or official records to support a claim, process, or event. It indicates that there is no formal proof or evidence available in document form.

What can I say instead of "absence of documentation"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of documentation", "nonexistence of records", or "missing paperwork" depending on the context.

How does the "absence of documentation" impact decision-making?

The "absence of documentation" can make decision-making difficult, unreliable or even biased, as decisions may need to be based on incomplete information, assumptions, or recall rather than concrete evidence.

Is "absence of documentation" the same as "lack of evidence"?

While related, they are not always identical. "Absence of documentation" specifically refers to missing documents, whereas "lack of evidence" is broader and can include the absence of physical proof, witness testimonies, and other forms of validation.