appear to be lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to be lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something seems to be deficient or insufficient in some way. Example: "The report appears to be lacking in detailed analysis, which is crucial for our decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Awareness and understanding of the disease of obesity and treatment options for it appear to be lacking among the general US population.

Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases

While the Drosophila genome encodes two Na+ channel α subunit genes, orthologs of Na+ channel β subunits appear to be lacking, suggesting that these subunits arose in evolution after the appearance of invertebrates [ 13].

BMC Genomics

What his players appear to be lacking is mental preparation.

The New York Times - Sports

All the athletic traits of Davis's game appear to be lacking: jumping, quickness, explosiveness.

The New York Times

And while it has struggled to produce chances, the team — well, except for Messi — does not appear to be lacking in confidence.

The New York Times

Learning to carry out teamwork is crucial, she says, because employers put a premium on it, but college graduates in general appear to be lacking the proper skills to be successful in a team environment.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

At the moment, the capacity to do that appears to be lacking.

The New York Times

We are working with bereaved families involved in IPCC investigations where this appears to be lacking.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The investigation appears to be lacking in fairness, neutrality and due process".

The New York Times

What appears to be lacking is any rational way of deciding which should shrink.

The New York Times

The words are often noble, but the courage to use power to set real examples appears to be lacking.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appear to be lacking", ensure that the subject and the missing element are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of just stating "details appear to be lacking", specify "the report appears to be lacking in specific financial details".

Common error

While "appear to be lacking" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "seem deficient" or "appear inadequate" to maintain reader engagement and convey the same meaning with different phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be lacking" functions as a qualifying expression, indicating a perceived deficiency or absence. It softens a direct statement, suggesting the absence is based on observation rather than definitive proof. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase can be used to describe deficiencies in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appear to be lacking" is a useful expression for conveying a perceived deficiency or absence in something. Ludwig AI reports that it is grammatically correct and well-suited for various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academic writing. While versatile, it's advisable to use synonyms like "seem to lack" or "appear deficient in" to avoid repetition. Remember to ensure clarity by specifying both the subject and what it lacks to avoid ambiguity. Its frequency is uncommon, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary while cautioning against overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to be missing

Replaces "appear" with "seem", providing a slightly less formal tone.

seem to lack

Uses "lack" directly instead of the progressive "be lacking", making the sentence more concise.

appear to be deficient

Substitutes "lacking" with "deficient", which is a more formal synonym indicating inadequacy.

appear to be inadequate

Replaces "lacking" with "inadequate", focusing on the insufficiency of something.

appear to be without

Uses "without" to express the absence of something, changing the structure slightly.

appear to have a deficit

Employs "deficit" to highlight a specific shortage or deficiency.

appear to exhibit a scarcity

Uses "scarcity" to emphasize a limited availability or insufficient quantity.

appear to fall short

Indicates that something does not meet a required standard or expectation.

seem to be short on

Emphasizes a shortage in a more colloquial way using "short on".

seem to be in short supply

Highlights that something is not sufficiently available, often used for resources or items.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "The report appears to be lacking detail"?

You could say "The report "seems to lack" detail", "The report "appears deficient in" detail", or "The report "seems to be missing" detail" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's a more formal way to say "appear to be lacking"?

More formal alternatives include "appear to be deficient", "appear to be inadequate", or "appear to exhibit a scarcity".

Is it correct to say "appears to be lacking" or "appear to be lacking"?

The correct form depends on the subject's number. Use "appears to be lacking" for singular subjects (e.g., "the report") and "appear to be lacking" for plural subjects (e.g., "the details").

When should I use "seem to be lacking" instead of "appear to be lacking"?

Both phrases are largely interchangeable. "Seem to be lacking" might be preferred in more informal contexts or when expressing a slightly weaker observation compared to "appear to be lacking".