are unfilled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are unfilled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe items, positions, or spaces that have not been filled or occupied. Example: "The job openings listed on the website indicate that several positions are unfilled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Spaces with guide letters are unfilled for remainder of codex.

Yale University

Two-thirds of employers say they cannot get the staff they need; more than 1m vacancies are unfilled.

The Economist

Currently, 32 positions, considered "judicial emergencies" by court administrators, are unfilled, creating heavy workloads for judges on those courts.

The New York Times

There are unfilled pastas, too, many of them flavored with ingredients like cuttlefish ink, chestnut flour, chiles and curry.

The New York Times - Food

More than 100,000 NHS jobs are unfilled and vacancies are increasing, according to the hospital regulator.

The Times

All of the senior science positions in the OSTP are unfilled, and it is still without a director.

MIT Technology Review

Preference is given to sophomores and juniors in high academic standing and other students are considered if there are unfilled slots.

Columbia University

In hospitals, about 21percentt, or 12,600, of the pharmacist jobs are unfilled, according to a survey in June by the American Hospital Association.

The New York Times

Nationally, Freedom of Information requests by the Press Association have revealed that 11 per cent of such posts are unfilled – a figure that masks sharp regional variations.

Independent

State Senator George C. Jepsen of Stamford said between 5,000 to 6,000 information technology industry jobs are unfilled just in Fairfield County.

The New York Times

The newspaper Kommersant reported today that as many as 200,000 military personnel are currently near retirement and nearly 100,000 empty slots in the military are unfilled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are unfilled" in formal writing, ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "job positions are unfilled" rather than just "positions are unfilled".

Common error

Avoid using "are unfilled" when the intended meaning is simply "empty". "Unfilled" implies a previous expectation or need for something to be filled, whereas "empty" is a more general descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are unfilled" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun (e.g., positions, jobs) as not being filled or occupied. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are unfilled" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, to denote that positions, spaces, or roles lack occupants or content. Its usage spans across diverse contexts like News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using "are unfilled", clarity is key; ensure the subject is well-defined. Alternatives such as "remain vacant" or ""are available"" may be suitable depending on context. Ludwig AI highlights the phrase's correctness and provides ample examples demonstrating its widespread application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain vacant

Focuses on the vacancy aspect, emphasizing that something is currently unoccupied.

are not filled

A more direct and literal alternative, simply stating that something lacks a filler.

are unoccupied

Emphasizes the lack of occupants in a space or position.

are vacant

A more concise way of expressing that something is empty or available.

are lacking occupants

Highlights the absence of people in a specified place or role.

are open

Suggests availability and readiness to be filled, particularly for positions or opportunities.

have not been filled

Implies that there was an expectation or intention to fill something, but it hasn't happened.

are available

Stresses the accessibility of something for use or occupation.

are not occupied

A more formal and emphatic way of saying something is not currently in use.

are still open

Indicates that the availability is ongoing and has not yet changed.

FAQs

How can I use "are unfilled" in a sentence?

You can use "are unfilled" to describe positions, spaces, or any countable items that are not occupied. For example, "Many job positions in the company "are unfilled" due to budget cuts".

What are some alternatives to "are unfilled"?

Alternatives include "remain vacant", "are not filled", or "are available". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct: "positions are unfilled" or "positions remain unfilled"?

Both "positions "are unfilled"" and "positions "remain unfilled"" are grammatically correct. The latter simply emphasizes that the positions have been unfilled for some time.

What's the difference between "are unfilled" and "are vacant"?

"Are vacant" and ""are unfilled"" are quite similar. "Vacant" generally describes a state of emptiness or non-occupancy, while "unfilled" implies that something was expected or intended to be filled, but is currently not.