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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
because an absence of
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "because an absence of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a situation or condition that arises due to the lack of something. Example: "The project failed because an absence of clear communication led to misunderstandings among team members."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
This is not because an absence of moral leadership provides cover for business complicity in human rights abuses; it is because the Khashoggi case is so blatant and so clearly demands moral courage and a principled response from leaders — in business as well as politics.
Equally, studies in only one species are a weak basis for extrapolation to humans because an absence of effects in one species does not mean that effects will not be seen in another species.
This is because an absence of a particular transcript in transcriptome assemblies can be caused by no or extremely low gene expression in addition to insufficient sequence read numbers.
Science
The third filter, requiring a gene expression difference in the parental lines of the BXD, may be conservative, because an absence of a difference in the parental lines doesn't necessarily preclude heritability in the BXD.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
The overall impact of the Code is difficult to monitor and assess because of because of an absence of NHS-specific data on numbers of nurses recruited and employed.
Science
He likens it to the way children kick their legs back and forth, back and forth, enough to drive more sedated adults to distraction, not because of an absence of vitality but because they have so much of it.
News & Media
Both correlation tests (Mantel and Rν) can be non-significant for two reasons: either because of an absence of population structure or because the two loci compared reveal different population structures.
Science
Of the remaining 398 cases, all of which involved a vaginal onset of delivery, 36 were excluded because of pathological CTG at admission and 1 because of an absence of CTG at admission.
These opportunities must be seized, or more polls may begin to show slippage in Labour's lead – not because of an increased enthusiasm for the government, but because of an absence of excitement for Labour's alternative offer.
News & Media
Children from poor neighborhoods often spend less time outdoors because of an absence of parks, playgrounds, and recreational programs and because of potential safety issues [ 15].
Children, adolescents and pregnant women were excluded because of an absence of safety data for them.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Consider stronger alternatives like "due to the lack of" when aiming for conciseness. Although grammatically correct, "because an absence of" can sometimes sound verbose.
Common error
Avoid constructing sentences where "because an absence of" leads to a convoluted passive voice. Reframe to emphasize the active element and improve clarity. For example, instead of 'Progress was hindered because an absence of funding was experienced', try 'The project stalled because funding was absent'.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "because an absence of" functions as a causal connector, linking a cause (the absence of something) to its effect. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase introduces the reason for a particular outcome or situation.
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
37%
Academia
13%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "because an absence of" serves as a causal connector, explaining events stemming from a lack or deficiency. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and while it appears more frequently in scientific, news and academic contexts, its usage is considered neutral. While acceptable, writers should be mindful of conciseness and avoid overuse of passive voice when employing this phrase. Consider alternatives like "due to the lack of" for potentially more streamlined phrasing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
due to a lack of
Replaces "because" with "due to" and uses "lack of" instead of "absence of", maintaining a formal tone.
owing to the scarcity of
Substitutes "because" with "owing to" and "absence" with "scarcity", creating a more formal and emphatic tone.
attributable to the deficiency of
Replaces "because" with "attributable to" and uses "deficiency" for "absence", providing a more technical and formal alternative.
as a result of the want of
Uses "want of" in place of "absence of", offering a slightly archaic but still understandable alternative.
due to the deficit in
Uses "deficit" instead of "absence", highlighting a numerical or measurable lack.
on account of the unavailability of
Replaces "absence" with "unavailability", emphasizing that something is not accessible or obtainable.
by reason of the shortage of
Uses "shortage" to replace "absence", implying that there is not enough of something.
stemming from the paucity of
Uses "stemming from" for "because" and "paucity" for "absence", adding a sense of something developing from a small quantity.
caused by the non-existence of
Replaces "absence" with "non-existence", highlighting that something does not exist at all.
thanks to the void of
Replaces "absence" with "void", which emphasizes the emptiness or lack of something
FAQs
How can I use "because an absence of" in a sentence?
Use "because an absence of" to explain a consequence resulting from something missing or lacking. For example, "The experiment failed because an absence of proper controls invalidated the results."
What phrases are similar to "because an absence of"?
Similar phrases include "due to a lack of", "owing to the scarcity of", or "attributable to the deficiency of", which provide similar explanations for causation.
Is "because an absence of" formal or informal?
"Because an absence of" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, "because there was no" or "since there was no" might sound more natural.
When should I avoid using "because an absence of"?
While grammatically correct, "because an absence of" can sometimes make sentences wordy. If you can express the same idea more concisely using "due to the lack of" or a similar phrase, it might be preferable.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested