dearth of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dearth of students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant lack or scarcity of students in a particular context, such as a school or program. Example: "The university is facing a dearth of students, leading to concerns about its future enrollment numbers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In the early 1970s, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, a private engineering institute, was in dire straits from a combination of cuts in federal aid and a dearth of students.

The New York Times

When a dearth of students caused the Howard law school to close the next year, Greener practiced law in Washington as a member of the firm of Greener & Cook.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It will serve as a pipeline to Coolidge High, a school that has a dearth of students, and comes as middle schools and high schools in other neighborhoods have ample vacant seats.

The Washington Post

The end-of-the-world atmosphere was caused not so much by its mountainous location, however, but by its dearth of students.Young people are in short supply in rapidly ageing Japan and I was not alone in having salaried, unsupervised time to burn.

The Guardian - Books

Unless there's an unusual dearth of students to review their peers' work, the instructors will not need to contribute beyond instruction and setting up a solid assessment rubric.

Duke University

While I am excited about our students' success and the opportunities that await them once our new state-of-the-art facility is operational, I am also concerned about the dearth of students who want to major in the STEM disciplines - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - especially women and underrepresented minorities.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The dearth of student aid for lower-income families is discouraging the neediest from applying to college at all and driving them toward low-paying jobs that keep them at the very margins of society.

The New York Times

There's the dearth of student housing, something that Christ herself called "a crisis". There are the annual cost overruns in Cal Athletics and continuing fallout from the $445 million debt incurred by Memorial Stadium renovations.

University of California, Berkeley

One teacher adjusted to the dearth of student computers by installing Cn3D on her personal or "teacher" computer and adapting the introductory unit molecular visualization lesson from a student-led activity to a teacher-led demonstration supplemented with PowerPoint slides.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Why is there such a dearth of male students?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But this was 1945, the war was just ending and there was a dearth of male students, so he was accepted.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dearth of students", consider the context. It often implies a negative situation impacting an institution or program due to under-enrollment. For a more neutral observation, alternatives like "low student enrollment" may be more appropriate.

Common error

While "dearth" is a valid word, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual contexts. In everyday conversation or informal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "lack of" or "shortage of" students.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dearth of students" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies and describes a state of deficiency or scarcity. Ludwig AI confirms the expression's validity and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dearth of students" effectively conveys a significant lack or scarcity of students, often highlighting challenges faced by educational institutions. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. While its formality makes it less common in casual conversation, it is frequently found in news articles, academic discussions, and scientific publications. Alternatives such as "lack of students" or "low student enrollment" can be used depending on the context and desired tone. Awareness of these subtle differences allows for more precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of students

Uses a more common and direct term for absence.

shortage of students

Implies a deficiency in the required number of students.

scarcity of students

Highlights the limited availability of students.

insufficient number of students

More formal and explicit in stating inadequacy.

low student enrollment

Focuses on the enrollment numbers being lower than expected.

declining student population

Suggests a trend of decreasing student numbers.

inadequate student attendance

Emphasizes the issue of students not attending regularly.

limited student participation

Highlights the lack of student involvement.

paucity of students

Uses a less common word for scarcity, indicating a very small number.

reduced student intake

Focuses on the decreased number of students being admitted.

FAQs

How can I use "dearth of students" in a sentence?

You can use "dearth of students" to describe a situation where there is a significant lack of students. For example, "The college is struggling with a dearth of students in its humanities program."

What are some alternatives to saying "dearth of students"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of students", "shortage of students", or "low student enrollment" depending on the specific context.

Is "dearth of students" a formal expression?

Yes, "dearth of students" is a relatively formal expression. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives like "lack of students" are often preferred.

When is it appropriate to use "dearth of students"?

"Dearth of students" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the severity or impact of having very few students in a specific area or institution. It's suitable for formal writing and professional communication.