due to a lack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "due to a lack" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain the reason for something not happening or being insufficient because of an absence or deficiency. Example: "The event was canceled due to a lack of participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But both moves foundered due to a lack of premises.

The Guardian

This is due to a lack of knowledge around regulations.

The Guardian

Falling drug prices weren't due to a lack of enforcement.

The New Yorker

It's not due to a lack of interest from students.

Stanford University

Is this due to a lack of internet bandwidth?

The Guardian - Tech

That failure is not due to a lack of trying.

Harvard Business Review

The trial was discontinued due to a lack of participation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"When you fade or you die, it's very rarely due to a lack of energy.

The New York Times - Tech

Ultimately, it's not due to a lack of love that the word has gone unacknowledged.

The New Yorker

The agency said one person died in hospital due to a lack of oxygen.

The Guardian

This can be unintentional, malicious or due to a lack of available primary care.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "due to a lack" with stronger, more specific phrasing when possible to enhance the impact of your writing. For example, use "because of insufficient funding" instead of "due to a lack of funding."

Common error

Avoid using "due to a lack" when the issue is not an absence of something, but rather a problem with quality, distribution, or access. For example, instead of saying "the project failed due to a lack of effort", consider "the project failed due to insufficient effort" or "the project failed because the effort was misdirected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "due to a lack" functions as a causal connector, indicating that something is happening or not happening as a direct result of a deficiency or absence. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Examples across various contexts illustrate its role in explaining consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

27%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "due to a lack" is a grammatically sound and frequently used causal connector, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to explain an outcome by pointing to a deficiency or absence. It maintains a neutral register, fitting well in both formal and informal settings. Ludwig's analysis reveals its frequent use in news, academic, and business contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to ensure clarity in expressing what is lacking and consider more specific alternatives to enhance writing impact. The phrase should not be used if it's not about the absence of something but a different problem (like the quality of the object itself, or its distribution channel).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

owing to a deficiency

Emphasizes the inadequacy of something as the cause.

because of insufficient

Highlights that something is happening because enough of something doesn't exist.

as a result of scarcity

Focuses on the limited availability of something leading to a consequence.

attributable to the absence of

Formally ascribes the cause to the non-existence of something.

stemming from an inadequacy

Suggests the origin of a problem is the insufficiency of something.

caused by a deficit of

Indicates that something is directly caused by not having enough of something.

in consequence of limited

Formally states that a limitation leads to a specific outcome.

prompted by the shortage of

Highlights that a shortage has incited or triggered a specific event.

arising from an undersupply of

Specifies that a problem originates from having less supply than needed.

resulting from the want of

Emphasizes that a consequence is a direct outcome of not possessing something needed.

FAQs

How can I use "due to a lack" in a sentence?

Use "due to a lack" to explain why something is happening or not happening because something is missing or insufficient. For example, "The event was cancelled "due to a lack" of interest".

What can I say instead of "due to a lack"?

You can use alternatives like "owing to a deficiency", "because of insufficient", or "as a result of scarcity" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "due to lack of" instead of "due to a lack of"?

While "due to lack of" might be encountered, "due to a lack of" is generally considered more grammatically correct and provides greater clarity.

When is it inappropriate to use "due to a lack"?

It's inappropriate to use "due to a lack" when the issue is not the absence of something but a different problem, like poor quality or mismanagement. In those cases, phrases like "because of poor quality" or "due to mismanagement" are more precise.