due to a lack of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "due to a lack of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time you want to express that something is happening because there isn't enough of something else. For example, "Due to a lack of funding, the museum had to close its doors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

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

When using "due to a lack of", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is lacking and its direct consequence. For example, "The project was delayed due to a lack of funding."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing the "due to a lack of" phrase close to the element it modifies. Incorrect: "Due to a lack of resources, the report was submitted late by the team." Correct: "The report was submitted late by the team due to a lack of resources."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "due to a lack of" functions as a causal prepositional phrase, indicating that a specific situation or outcome is the direct result of something being insufficient or absent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a widely accepted way to express causation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "due to a lack of" is a grammatically sound and very common causal phrase used to explain that something occurs because something else is insufficient or absent. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a correct and usable phrase across many contexts. It sees frequent use in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business settings, demonstrating its versatility. While generally neutral, it can lean towards formal. For alternative phrasing, consider “owing to an absence of” or “attributable to insufficient” for a more formal tone. When using "due to a lack of", ensure clarity by positioning it appropriately within the sentence to avoid ambiguity. Pay attention to the difference between "due to a lack of" and "because of a lack of", with the first being slightly more formal than the latter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Due to a deficit of

Using a synonym for "lack" to express same meaning.

Because of a deficiency in

Directly states a deficiency is the reason.

Owing to an absence of

Replaces "due to a lack of" with a more formal tone emphasizing the absence as the direct cause.

On account of inadequate

Emphasizes inadequacy as the reason for the outcome.

Attributable to insufficient

More formal and emphasizes the insufficiency as the cause.

Stemming from a shortage of

Suggests the shortage is the root cause.

Resulting from a scarcity of

Focuses on scarcity as the reason, slightly more descriptive.

As a consequence of limited

Highlights the consequence of something being limited.

Arising from a want of

More archaic and formal, emphasizing the want or need.

Thanks to an absence of

Expresses that something is happening because there isn't something else.

FAQs

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

Use "due to a lack of" to explain why something is happening or has happened because something is missing or insufficient. For example, "The event was cancelled "due to a lack of interest"".

What's a more formal alternative to "due to a lack of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "owing to an absence of", "attributable to insufficient", or "as a consequence of limited".

What is the difference between "due to a lack of" and "because of a lack of"?

While both phrases convey a causal relationship, "due to a lack of" is often considered slightly more formal than "because of a lack of". They are largely interchangeable in most contexts.

Is it incorrect to start a sentence with "due to a lack of"?

While it's generally acceptable, starting a sentence with "due to a lack of" can sometimes sound awkward. Rephrasing to place the causal phrase later in the sentence often improves readability. For example, instead of "Due to a lack of preparation, the presentation was unsuccessful", try "The presentation was unsuccessful "owing to a lack of preparation"".