are mostly lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are mostly lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is generally absent or insufficient in a particular context. Example: "The resources for the project are mostly lacking, which has hindered our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Notwithstanding the suspiciously chimerical army of 70,000 rebel fighters conjured by Mr Cameron from the northern deserts, capable local ground forces are mostly lacking.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even though definitions of environmental harm to protection goals are mostly lacking, thresholds for environmental harm for ERA purposes need to be defined.

Environmental Sciences Europe

In fact, to date, comparatively little attention was given to EEW by earthquake engineering, and design approaches for structure-specific EEW are mostly lacking.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

However, general explanations for the occurrence of such windows are mostly lacking [but see 13].

Plosone

For the majority of products, these data are mostly lacking.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Interestingly, TLF binding sites are enriched for DREs and are mostly lacking TATA boxes [ 83].

Cell and Bioscience

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Still, long-term planning is mostly lacking.

Independent

Transparency has been mostly lacking.

The New Yorker

"Talk" is made up entirely of talk; stage directions must be inferred, but action is mostly lacking, anyway.

The New Yorker

The comment was largely instinctive and emotional and an understanding of conservation and practical consideration of what might be done were mostly lacking.

Independent

Simple human decency was mostly lacking in the characters in "L.A. Confidential," the adaptation that he co-wrote of James Ellroy's existential classic, and in his half-strangled remake of John Boorman's "Point Blank," the 1999 "Payback".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are mostly lacking", ensure the context clearly specifies what is absent and its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "are mostly lacking" when a complete absence is not the case. If something is partially present, consider using phrases like "are somewhat limited" or "are partially lacking" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are mostly lacking" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a deficiency or absence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are mostly lacking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the general absence or insufficiency of something. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that the phrase is often found in scientific, news, and business contexts. While it’s a useful phrase, it’s important to consider the context to ensure you are not overstating the degree of absence. Consider alternatives like "are largely absent" or "are substantially insufficient" for slightly different shades of meaning. When deploying this phrase, ensure that you are explicit in specifying precisely what is absent, enhancing clarity for your reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are largely absent

Replaces "mostly lacking" with "largely absent", emphasizing a significant degree of absence.

are generally missing

Substitutes "mostly lacking" with "generally missing", indicating a usual state of absence.

are predominantly deficient

Replaces "mostly lacking" with "predominantly deficient", highlighting a major deficiency.

are substantially insufficient

Substitutes "mostly lacking" with "substantially insufficient", emphasizing a considerable inadequacy.

are significantly wanting

Replaces "mostly lacking" with "significantly wanting", indicating a notable lack.

are conspicuously absent

Substitutes "mostly lacking" with "conspicuously absent", highlighting an obvious absence.

are markedly inadequate

Replaces "mostly lacking" with "markedly inadequate", emphasizing a clear inadequacy.

are severely limited

Substitutes "mostly lacking" with "severely limited", focusing on a significant restriction.

are critically short

Replaces "mostly lacking" with "critically short", indicating a crucial shortage.

are virtually nonexistent

Substitutes "mostly lacking" with "virtually nonexistent", emphasizing an almost complete absence.

FAQs

How can I use "are mostly lacking" in a sentence?

Use "are mostly lacking" to indicate that something is generally absent or insufficient. For example: "The necessary resources "are mostly lacking" for the project."

What's a more formal alternative to "are mostly lacking"?

More formal alternatives include "are largely absent", "are predominantly deficient", or "are substantially insufficient".

Is it correct to say "is mostly lacking" or "are mostly lacking"?

Use "is mostly lacking" with singular nouns and "are mostly lacking" with plural nouns. For example: "The evidence "is mostly lacking"", but "The data "are mostly lacking"".

What's the difference between "are mostly lacking" and "are completely lacking"?

"Are mostly lacking" implies that something is generally absent but potentially present to a small degree, while "are completely lacking" indicates a total absence.