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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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an active missing

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an active missing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a situation where something is actively absent or unaccounted for, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report highlighted an active missing of key data points that hindered our analysis."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Grand County Sheriff's Office is handling this matter as an active missing person investigation. .

News & Media

Huffington Post

Contacted by HuffPost on Friday, Phoenix police would say only that the case remains "an active missing person investigation".

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The case is being handled as an active missing-person investigation.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

All models additionally included height (continues in cm), weight (continues in kg), energy intake from fat and non-fat sources (continues in kcal/day), alcohol consumption (continues in g/day), physical activity (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active, missing), and highest educational level (none, primary school, technical/professional school, secondary school, university).

It did not yield a match to existing DNA databases from convicted felons or from active missing person cases in which samples had been collected.

News & Media

The New York Times

Baby Hope's DNA yielded no matches with DNA databases of convicted felons or active missing person cases.

News & Media

The New York Times

But there were no matches when they tested it against DNA databases of convicted felons or active missing person cases.

News & Media

The New York Times

Locally, BC RCMP currently have approximately 57 active missing persons cases on their website.

News & Media

Vice

Medical Examiner Glenn Wagner said there are 3,175 active missing person cases in San Diego County — and more than 19,000 statewide.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

††Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire-12 (range 0-48) (available only for women who were sexually active; missing scores were imputed only for women who were sexually active at baseline).

To adjust for the level of physical activity, a five-level validated variable (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active, and missing) was created [ 11].

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to missing persons investigations, use the established phrase "missing persons case" instead of the less common and potentially confusing "an active missing".

Common error

Avoid using "active" directly before "missing" as it creates an awkward and unclear phrasing. Reframe the sentence to clarify what is "active", such as an "active investigation" or the action of "actively searching".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an active missing" functions as a noun phrase aiming to describe a state of being absent or unaccounted for. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is grammatically incorrect and unclear in standard English. Its intended meaning is often related to ongoing investigations or searches.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an active missing" appears in some contexts, particularly in news and scientific articles, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable and unclear. Its intended meaning often relates to ongoing investigations or a current state of absence. It's advisable to use clearer and more established phrases such as "actively missing", "currently missing", or specify what is active, such as "an active investigation" for improved clarity. The phrase's frequency is rare, suggesting it's not a common or widely accepted expression.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "an active missing" to be more grammatically correct?

Consider alternatives like "actively missing", "currently missing", or describing the action being taken, such as "an active investigation".

Is it correct to say "an active missing person"?

While understandable, it's better to use established phrases like "missing person" or specify what is active, such as "an active missing person case".

What does "an active missing" typically refer to?

The phrase often refers to an ongoing investigation into someone's disappearance or the state of something being currently lost or absent.

Which is a better way to phrase an ongoing search: "an active missing" or "an active search"?

"An active search" is clearer and grammatically sound. "An active missing" is less common and can be confusing.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: