compared to lack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compared to lack" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to compare something with a lack of something else, but it needs additional context or rephrasing to be usable. Example: "Compared to a lack of resources, our project has been quite successful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

EP Evaluator calculates the true and false positive rate at a range of thresholds for the 2D similarity in discriminating experimental determined assay cross-reactivity (positive) compared to lack of cross-reactivity (negative).

Journal of Cheminformatics

The contrast is overwhelming compared to lack of focus and resolve when it comes to North Korea.

Huffington Post

Thrombolytics, though less preferable to PCI, improve outcomes in elderly STEMI patients compared to lack of revascularization.

Clinical interventions in aging

However, a strong signal obtained with the anti-HA antibody in cells incubated in the presence of the complex compared to lack of the signal in control cells incubated with the same antibody confirmed that the antigen was introduced to cells by the dodecahedric vector.

BMC Biotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was hypothesized that this might be explained by the difference in charge distribution after losing an N-terminal positive charge compared to lacking a C-terminal positive charge.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

One Republican senator did privately voice reservations about the rush to force Mr. Craig out, compared to the lack of any public reprimand of Mr. Vitter.

The New York Times

Especially when compared to the lack of diversity in Hollywood".

Huffington Post

Compared to the lack of inclusivity at the 2016 Oscars (remember #OscarsSoWhite?), the 2016 Tonys represented a celebration of diversity on stage.

Huffington Post

To examine the mechanism underlying this synergy we focused our studies on the 4 to 10 fold enhancement in myotonia observed in the limb muscles of mice lacking Mbnl1 and Mbnl3 when compared to animals lacking only Mbnl1.

EBioMedicine

Statistical analyses showed that the decrease in fusion frequencies in TRF2-depleted cells also lacking BRCA1 or CtIP was significant when compared to cells lacking TRF2 alone (P ≤ 0.05), indicating that these factors promote end-joining of uncapped telomeres.

EMBO Journal

Here, we show that mice lacking both ADAMs 17 and 19 have exacerbated defects in heart development compared to mice lacking either ADAM, providing the first evidence for redundant or compensatory functions of ADAMs in development.

Developmental Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When drawing comparisons, ensure clarity by specifying what is being compared and what the 'lack' pertains to. For instance, rephrase "compared to lack" to "compared to a lack of resources" to provide a clear and meaningful comparison.

Common error

Do not use "compared to lack" without specifying what is lacking. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Always provide a clear object of comparison to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compared to lack" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a comparison. However, its grammatical function is undermined by its inherent ambiguity. Ludwig AI identifies that a direct comparison to 'lack' is semantically incomplete without specifying the object of lack.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "compared to lack" appears in various contexts, especially in science and news, it's generally considered grammatically weak due to its ambiguity. Ludwig AI analysis suggests that specifying what is being compared and what is lacking is crucial for clarity. For improved precision, consider using alternatives such as "compared to the absence of" or "in contrast to a dearth of". As noted by Ludwig AI, using "compared to lack" without further context may lead to misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared with the absence of

Replaces "lack" with a more explicit term for absence.

compared to the deficiency of

Substitutes "lack" with "deficiency" to highlight inadequacy.

in comparison to the absence of

Adds "in comparison" for emphasis.

relative to the absence of

Uses "relative to" to indicate a proportional comparison.

as opposed to lacking

Focuses on the contrast between presence and absence.

versus the lack of

Employs "versus" for a direct contrast.

in contrast to a dearth of

Replaces "lack" with "dearth" indicating scarcity.

measured against a deficiency of

Highlights the measurement or assessment against a deficiency.

evaluated against the absence of

Emphasizes the evaluation process relative to absence.

compared to not having

Simplified phrasing of the original query

FAQs

What does "compared to lack" mean?

The phrase "compared to lack" is grammatically awkward and lacks clarity. It's typically used to draw a comparison against the absence or deficiency of something, but it's better to specify what's being compared to what is lacking.

How can I rephrase "compared to lack" for better clarity?

Instead of "compared to lack", consider using phrases like "compared to the absence of", "in contrast to a dearth of", or "as opposed to lacking" depending on the intended meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to use "compared to lack"?

While occasionally found in certain contexts, "compared to lack" is generally considered grammatically weak and can be unclear. It's recommended to use more explicit phrasing for better understanding.

What are some alternatives to "compared to lack" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, clarity is crucial. Instead of "compared to lack", opt for phrases such as "relative to the absence of", "in comparison to a deficiency of", or specify the missing element: "compared to samples lacking X".