conveys a lack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conveys a lack" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something communicates or expresses an absence or deficiency of a particular quality or characteristic. Example: "The tone of her voice conveys a lack of enthusiasm for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Too much fidgeting conveys a lack of confidence.

The New Yorker

Whether intentional or not, the failure to communicate with family members conveys a lack of concern about their loss.

The New York Times - Health

The selected technical literature conveys a lack of consensus on the understanding of context and CASS, and on the meaning of software testing.

Journal of Systems and Software

"The End of the Tour," with its lack of confidence in the fragmentary, the unconnected, the unresolved, conveys a lack of confidence in the word.

The New Yorker

Stock photography conveys a lack of imagination, a company that is going through the motions and presenting a false image.

Forbes

In fact, both Williamson and Hart imply a hypothesis that transactions among organizations are manageable, while in this paper, capital shortage seemingly conveys a lack of transaction conditions.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Rather than convey a lack of interest in shareholders' concerns, some companies have adopted a more inclusive view.

The New York Times

Gordon readily displayed his competence by reviewing his track record, but he failed to show warmth indeed, the misunderstanding that led him to sample Bob's food ended up conveying a lack of respect.

Harvard Business Review

Instead, they "displayed attitudes that conveyed a lack of understanding of the problem of [child sexual exploitation] and the nature of grooming … children as young as 11 were deemed to be having consensual sexual intercourse when in fact they were being raped and abused by adults".

The New Yorker

Mistakes like these can reflect poorly on your brand and convey a lack of professionalism and dedication to creating quality content.

Forbes

It also means that women in particular are more likely to behave in such a way to preserve relationships, which in spoken communication may sometimes be misconstrued to convey a lack of authority and low confidence.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "conveys a lack", ensure the subject clearly demonstrates or communicates the absence of something, not just a possibility of absence. For instance, "frequent tardiness conveys a lack of commitment."

Common error

Avoid using "conveys a lack" when the subject does not directly demonstrate or communicate the absence. Instead, use alternatives like "suggests" or "implies" for less direct communication. For example, don't say "The possibility of rain conveys a lack of sunshine"; rather, use "suggests" or another weaker verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conveys a lack" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of communicating or expressing the absence or deficiency of something. As shown in Ludwig, it commonly links a subject (an action, behavior, or statement) to the idea of a deficiency in a particular area.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conveys a lack" serves to communicate that something exhibits an absence or deficiency. Grammatically correct, it appears mostly in news and scientific contexts. According to Ludwig, the phrase is used to describe how a subject (action, behavior, or statement) can communicate a shortage. While not the most frequent expression, it effectively highlights deficiencies, and its meaning is clearly understood. Remember to ensure the subject of the sentence actually demonstrates the absence, and consider alternatives like "indicates an absence" or "suggests a deficiency" based on the intended level of directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicates an absence

Replaces the verb "conveys" with "indicates", focusing on a direct showing of absence.

suggests a deficiency

Uses "suggests" instead of "conveys", implying a less direct communication of the lack.

demonstrates an absence

Emphasizes the clear and observable presentation of an absence.

communicates a shortage

Focuses on the communication aspect and uses "shortage" as a synonym for "lack".

betrays a deficit

Implies that the lack is being unwillingly revealed or exposed.

signals an inadequacy

Uses "signals" to show that it's sending a clear signal of inadequacy.

projects an image of scarcity

Focuses on projecting an outward impression of scarcity.

implies a want

Simpler phrasing to indicate the presence of a want or need.

exhibits a dearth

Replaces "lack" with "dearth", a more formal synonym for scarcity.

reveals a paucity

Similar to "exhibits a dearth", but uses "paucity" to denote smallness in quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "conveys a lack" in a sentence?

Use "conveys a lack" to describe how something communicates the absence or deficiency of a particular quality. For example, "His hesitant tone "conveys a lack" of confidence."

What are some alternatives to "conveys a lack"?

You can use alternatives like "indicates an absence", "suggests a deficiency", or "demonstrates an absence", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "conveys a lack of" or "conveys lack of"?

"Conveys a lack of" is generally preferred because it includes the article "a", which is grammatically correct when referring to a general absence or deficiency. "Conveys lack of" might be acceptable in very specific or technical contexts, but "conveys a lack of" is usually safer and more accurate.

What is the difference between "conveys a lack" and "implies a lack"?

"Conveys a lack" suggests a more direct communication of the absence, whereas "implies a lack" suggests that the absence is hinted at or suggested without being explicitly stated. "Conveys" is more explicit than "implies".