deficient by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deficient by" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It can be used when specifying the amount or degree by which something is lacking or insufficient, but it is better to use it in a more straightforward context. Example: "The project was deficient by several key components, which hindered its success."

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

In the colon RC deficiency is common, with ∼15% of crypts RC deficient by the 7th decade, caused by clonally expanded mtDNA point mutations (Taylor et al., 2003).

Aging Cell

Right now it's deficient by national standards.

The New York Times

Thirty-four percent of job seekers, in fact, were found deficient by the 430 surveyed companies that tested for basic skills last year.

The New York Times

He said The Times's coverage had been "deficient by any reasonable standards of fairness".

The New York Times

Short days and grey skies mean 60 per cent of the British population is deficient by the start of spring.

Independent

The deadly collapse of a Minnesota highway bridge in August shined a light on the poor state of the nation's bridges, many thousands of which are "structurally deficient" by federal standards.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

In the long run, the fear of losing a student's interest by insisting on high writing standards is a small one compared to the implications of college graduates viewed as writing-deficient by the people who sign their paychecks.

Huffington Post

Therefore, we generated Rec-HYα, H-Y TCRβ, TCR Cα-deficient, Bim-deficient mice (Rec-HY Bim-deficient) by breeding, in order to evaluate the role of Bim during negative selection in our model.

Plosone

Thus, in contrast to genetically GR-deficient RBCs, RBCs rendered GR-deficient by BCNU appear to be unable to maintain sufficient GSH levels, possibly because the high BCNU doses also affect the GSH synthesizing enzymes [56].

Plosone

We have used microarray-based methods of global gene expression together with quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis to identify dysregulation of genes and aberrant cellular processes in human fibroblasts and in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells made HPRT-deficient by transduction with a retrovirus stably expressing an shRNA targeted against HPRT.

Plosone

The kiang subspecies in question is categorized as "data-deficient" by the IUCN (Moehlman 2002).

Environmental Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deficient by", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard or measure is being referenced. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "deficient by" can sound awkward in some contexts. Consider alternatives like "lacking in" or "short of" /s/short+of for a smoother style, especially in less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deficient by" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the degree or amount of deficiency relative to a specific standard or requirement. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing deficiencies in various contexts, like nutritional deficiencies or structural inadequacies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deficient by" is used to express the extent to which something falls short of a required standard or level. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is acceptable, it is important to consider the context and choose the most appropriate wording for clarity. "Deficient by" is commonly found in scientific and news-related articles, providing precise information about inadequacies. Some alternatives include "lacking in" or "short of" that can be selected in order to avoid causing the writing to sound awkward. Overall, it’s a functional phrase with a specific purpose, widely accepted in formal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deficient in

Very similar to the original phrase, but without specifying "by" what.

lacking in

Focuses on the absence of something as a general characteristic.

insufficient in

Emphasizes the inadequacy of something to meet requirements.

short of

Implies a quantitative deficiency, often in numerical terms.

inadequate for

Highlights unsuitability for a specific purpose.

wanting in

Suggests a lack of a necessary or desirable quality.

limited in

Suggests a restriction in scope or extent.

poor in

Indicates a low quantity or quality of something.

weak in

Signifies a reduced ability or capacity.

underperforming in

Highlights a failure to meet expected performance levels.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "deficient by" in a sentence?

Consider using alternatives such as "lacking in", "short of", or "insufficient in" depending on the context to improve clarity and flow.

Is it always appropriate to use "deficient by" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "deficient by" can sometimes sound stiff or awkward. Evaluate whether alternatives like "lacking by" or a more direct phrasing would be more suitable for your specific context.

What does "data deficient" mean when used by the IUCN?

When the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies a species as "data deficient", it means that there isn't enough information available to accurately assess its risk of extinction. More research is needed to determine its conservation status.

Can "deficient by" be used to describe a person's skills or abilities?

Yes, although it's less common. You might say someone is "deficient by" a certain level of experience or training, but alternatives like "lacking in" or "weak in" skills may sound more natural.