be mostly lacking in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be mostly lacking in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or object that is deficient or insufficient in a particular quality or characteristic. Example: "The report seems to be mostly lacking in detailed analysis, which is crucial for understanding the findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

She says that Cassini scientists can now look for evidence that the waves, now or in the past, have eroded into the jagged, frozen shorelines and created long, straight beaches features that have been mostly lacking in Cassini data.

Science Magazine

However, the game was mostly lacking in its most essential punchline: a story.

Huffington Post

That charm is mostly lacking in Gigi (despite a game cast) and only somewhat present in An American In Paris.

Huffington Post

That show did have a whole lot more nudity (that's what premium cable is for, after all), but it was mostly lacking in the charisma department.

Huffington Post

We realized this was for first place in league and we just had to get a 'W' today". Fired up, the Falcons continued to mount the kind of pressure on the Bulldogs' goal that was mostly lacking in the first half.

Los Angeles Times

The drama and tension that was mostly lacking in the overall match, which saw the Nitros race out to an 8-1 lead, came to light in the final set of the day between Glendale No. 2 singles Nick Shamma and Hoover No. 1 Oleg Simonyan.

Los Angeles Times

The 504 CyOGs missing from the relaxed cores were mostly lacking in cyanobacterium UCYN-A, the two Yellowstone species or in the Prochlorococcus clade and belonged primarily to the General prediction only (R), Energy production (C), Amino acid (E) and Inorganic ion transport and metabolism (P) functional categories.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Data is mostly lacking for the role of the C14MC cluster in PE.

BioMed Research International

Despite the considerable challenge to annotate genes in newly sequenced species where preexisting gene models are mostly lacking, automated gene annotation has in principle become possible for individual research groups (Yandell and Ence 2012).

Evolutionary Applications

Transparency has been mostly lacking.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be mostly lacking in", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is deficient. Be specific to enhance clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "lack" when the continuous form "lacking" is required. "Lacking" describes a current state of deficiency, while "lack" is often used as a noun or verb indicating the absence itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be mostly lacking in" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that something is deficient or insufficient in a particular quality or characteristic. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be mostly lacking in" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a state of deficiency or insufficiency. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively infrequent, it finds application in both News & Media and Scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to specify the deficient aspect clearly. Alternatives like "be largely deficient in" or "be primarily devoid of" can offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis. Understanding the distinction between "lack" and "lacking" is also important for precise usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be largely deficient in

Emphasizes a significant deficiency.

be primarily devoid of

Highlights the absence of something as a primary characteristic.

be significantly wanting in

Focuses on the notable absence of a required or desired element.

be notably insufficient in

Stresses the inadequacy or insufficiency of something.

be substantially absent of

Indicates a considerable absence of something.

be conspicuously short on

Highlights the obvious shortage or lack of something.

be remarkably scarce in

Emphasizes the rarity or scarcity of something.

be severely limited in

Points out the strong limitations due to a lack of something.

be largely without

States a general absence of something.

be mainly bereft of

Emphasizes a sense of loss or deprivation due to the lack of something.

FAQs

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

This phrase is used to describe something that is deficient in a particular quality or aspect. For example, "The report seems to "be mostly lacking in" detailed analysis, which is crucial for understanding the findings."

What are some alternatives to "be mostly lacking in"?

You can use alternatives like "be largely deficient in", "be primarily devoid of", or "be significantly wanting in", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "is mostly lacking in" or "mostly lacks"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "is mostly lacking in" emphasizes the current state of deficiency. "Mostly lacks" is more concise and emphasizes the general absence of something. Choose the phrasing that best fits the context and desired emphasis.

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

"Be mostly lacking in" implies a partial deficiency, while "be completely lacking in" suggests a total absence. The choice depends on the degree of deficiency you want to express.