far too scarce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'far too scarce' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to emphasize that something is insufficient or in short supply. For example, "Good mental health experts are far too scarce in underserved areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Details about the life of Pedro Hernandez, who confessed last week to killing Etan Patz, a 6-year-old who disappeared while walking to a bus stop in SoHo in 1979, are still far too scarce to make any authoritative judgments, psychiatrists say.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, back in the real economy, good jobs are far too scarce, incomes are stagnant, while 95percentt of the gains go to the top one percent.

Huffington Post

Finally, if combination of spoligotypes with 12-loci MIRU-VNTR profiles has permitted the identification of 12 subclusters including 34 drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, the available epidemiological data was far too scarce to precisely estimate their level of active transmission among respective population of the FDA.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But progress has been far too slow and much too scarce.

Huffington Post

Far too many are stretching scarce household resources to find safe drinking water – which should be readily available to all".

Unicef

This demonstrates that, even in population based studies far outperforming most other studies in terms of sample size, observed outcomes might be too scarce to draw even preliminary conclusions.

British Medical Journal

Far above and beyond that adolescent exuberance was a wisdom and grace that is way too scarce in today's twitter world.

Huffington Post

One example: over three days last week we tried to find a scarce bed for a mentally ill and highly distressed 17-year-old languishing for far too many hours in an A&E department.

The Guardian

So far, the safety and efficacy data of the fixed combination of ICS + LABA in children <2 years is too scarce to justify prescribing these drugs in young children.

European Journal of Pediatrics

Medical costs continue to soar because we have placed far too much emphasis on expensive medical treatments rather than more effective, noninvasive and preventive measures like nutrition and diet, which receive scarce attention and far too little financing.

The New York Times

Far, far, too cheap.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far too scarce", ensure the context clearly establishes what is lacking and why it matters. This phrase is most impactful when highlighting a critical shortage.

Common error

Avoid using "far too scarce" when describing situations where something is merely uncommon or slightly limited. Reserve it for cases of significant and impactful deficiency to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too scarce" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It intensifies the adjective "scarce", indicating a significant deficiency. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far too scarce" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize a significant lack or insufficiency. Ludwig AI confirms this. While relatively rare, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly highlights the impactful shortage. Alternatives such as "extremely limited" or "severely lacking" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Avoid using "far too scarce" when a mere uncommmonness is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely limited

Emphasizes the restricted availability or quantity.

severely lacking

Highlights the deficiency or absence of something.

woefully inadequate

Indicates a regrettable insufficiency or unsuitability.

in desperately short supply

Stresses the urgent need for something that is lacking.

nowhere near enough

Emphasizes the great difference between the needed amount and the available one.

thin on the ground

An idiom implying that there is not enough of something.

few and far between

Indicates rarity and infrequency.

not nearly sufficient

Highlights the insufficiency of something for a specific purpose.

hardly existent

Emphasizes the near absence of something.

at a premium

Indicates that something is highly valued because it is rare or in short supply.

FAQs

How can I use "far too scarce" in a sentence?

Use "far too scarce" to emphasize that something is severely limited or insufficient. For example, "Qualified nurses are far too scarce in rural hospitals."

What phrases are similar to "far too scarce"?

Alternatives include "extremely limited", "severely lacking", or "woefully inadequate", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "very scarce" instead of "far too scarce"?

While "very scarce" is grammatically correct, "far too scarce" adds emphasis to the insufficiency. The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "far too scarce"?

It's appropriate when describing resources, opportunities, or qualities that are critically lacking, creating a significant problem or challenge.