acute shortage of

USAGE SUMMARY

"acute shortage of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where you are critically low on a particular resource. For example, "There is an acute shortage of nurses in this hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was an acute shortage of fuel for tractors.

The Guardian

We face an acute shortage of female health workers.

The Guardian

There is an acute shortage of such beds.

The Guardian

Their main problem is Liberia's acute shortage of labor.

The New Yorker

According to the radio this week there is an acute shortage of GPs.

The Guardian

Now the informal markets have recognized the acute shortage of small notes.

The New York Times

Facing an acute shortage of entries to his hand, South temporized by leading a third trump.

The New York Times - Arts

There is an acute shortage of skilled personnel, including Arabic and Farsi translators.

The New York Times

The acute shortage of specialist schools does not help the situation.

The Guardian

PRESIDENT BUSH has declared that, once again, the nation has an acute shortage of energy.

The New York Times

Since late last year, there has been an acute shortage of antiretroviral drugs in government facilities.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acute shortage of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and the potential consequences of the shortage. For example, "The hospital is facing an "acute shortage of" nurses, which is impacting patient care."

Common error

Avoid using "acute shortage of" when the lack is minor or easily resolved. This phrase implies a critical and urgent need. Instead, opt for less severe terms like "limited supply" or "small deficit" if the situation isn't dire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acute shortage of" functions as a noun phrase modifier, specifically describing the severity and intensity of a lack or deficit. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it's used to highlight a critical deficiency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acute shortage of" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a severe lack or deficiency. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business contexts. The phrase effectively conveys the urgency and potential negative impacts associated with the shortage. While alternatives like "critical deficit of" or "severe scarcity of" exist, "acute shortage of" remains a widely recognized and understood way to express a critical lack of resources or supplies. The frequency and presence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and appropriateness in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical deficit of

Replaces "shortage" with "deficit" and "acute" with "critical", emphasizing the severity of the lack.

severe scarcity of

Uses "scarcity" instead of "shortage" and "severe" instead of "acute", highlighting the limited availability.

dire lack of

Substitutes "shortage" with "lack" and "acute" with "dire", stressing the urgency and seriousness of the deficiency.

extreme inadequacy of

Replaces "shortage" with "inadequacy" and "acute" with "extreme", focusing on the insufficiency.

urgent deficiency in

Uses "deficiency" instead of "shortage" and "urgent" instead of "acute", highlighting the pressing nature of the lack.

pronounced shortfall in

Substitutes "shortage" with "shortfall" and "acute" with "pronounced", emphasizing the clear and noticeable deficiency.

desperate need for

Shifts the focus to the need resulting from the shortage, using "desperate" to convey urgency.

marked absence of

Replaces "shortage" with "absence" and "acute" with "marked", indicating a clear and obvious lack.

significant shortfall of

Replaces "acute" with "significant", softening the emphasis on severity while retaining the sense of a notable lack.

noticeable deficit of

Replaces "acute" with "noticeable", reducing the intensity of the description but retaining the sense of a deficit.

FAQs

How can I use "acute shortage of" in a sentence?

Use "acute shortage of" to describe a critical lack of something. For example, "There is an "acute shortage of" affordable housing in the city."

What can I say instead of "acute shortage of"?

You can use alternatives like "critical deficit of", "severe scarcity of", or "dire lack of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "acute shortage of" or "acutely short of"?

"Acute shortage of" is a phrase used to describe a severe lack of something. "Acutely short of" isn't as common, but it can be used to describe someone lacking something to a great degree. Example: "The hospital is "acutely short of" staff."

What's the difference between "acute shortage of" and "chronic shortage of"?

"Acute shortage of" implies a sudden and severe lack, while "chronic shortage of" suggests a long-term, ongoing lack. One is temporary and the other one is a long-lasting situation.