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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
feel lack
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "feel lack" is not correct in written English.
To make a valid sentence, you could instead use "feel a lack of" followed by a noun. For example, "She felt a lack of energy after working a long shift."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Wiki
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
8 human-written examples
They should explain why they feel lack of turnout for 47 weeks out of 52 is acceptable.
News & Media
He's also quick to call BS on products he feel lack integrity (remember the power band, the "negative ions" products Cuban accused of being a scam?).
News & Media
When people feel lack of social connection they anthropomorphize to a higher content to satisfy their motivation to be together with others.
Science
To be capable of aspiration, one must know and feel lack.
Science
Previous studies originating from the United States and Nepal report that women feel lack of spousal and family support for changing life style (54, 55).
Science
Likewise Shaohua et al 39 found that many family physicians feel lack of time was their biggest barrier in terms of implementing smoking cessation practices.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
52 human-written examples
Focus on the love you do have, rather than what might feel lacking.
News & Media
But when you return to their work together, their solo ventures can't help but feel lacking in something.
News & Media
Even then, though, the epic boss battles feel lacking, and you feel powerless and passive as you watch a team of weird creatures loafing around.
News & Media
The Thin Blue Line (2011) document, which we feel lacks rigour, examines discrepancies in crime recording.
Science
The list of default apps isn't bloated by any means, but it doesn't feel lacking either.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Instead of saying "feel lack", use "feel a lack of" followed by a noun to create a grammatically correct and more natural-sounding sentence. For example, use "feel a lack of confidence" or "feel a lack of support".
Common error
A common mistake is to omit the article "a" and the preposition "of" after "feel lack". This omission results in a grammatically incorrect phrase. Always use "feel a lack of" to ensure correct usage.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "feel lack" typically functions as a verb followed by a noun, but it's often grammatically incomplete without the article "a" and the preposition "of". As Ludwig AI points out, it is more correct and idiomatic to say "feel a lack of".
Frequent in
News & Media
30%
Science
30%
Wiki
20%
Less common in
Formal & Business
10%
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "feel lack" appears in various sources, it's grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "feel a lack of", followed by a noun, to express the sensation of missing something. When aiming for clarity and correctness, opt for alternatives like "experience a deficiency" or "feel the absence of". Though the phrase shows up in News & Media, Science, Wiki and Formal & Business contexts, it's still better to use its correct form to ensure you deliver high-quality and grammatically correct writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
feel the absence of
More grammatically correct, focusing on the missing element.
sense an absence
Highlights the intuitive feeling that something is missing.
feel an inadequacy
Focuses on the feeling of not having enough.
experience a deficiency
Formal alternative emphasizing the subjective experience of lacking something.
perceive a deficit
Emphasizes a cognitive awareness of something being insufficient.
feel a scarcity of
Highlights the limited availability of something.
feel deprived of
Emphasizes the experience of being denied something necessary.
feel the want of
Uses older English to denote a feeling of needing something.
be conscious of a need
Focuses on the awareness of a requirement or necessity.
recognize a shortage
Highlights the recognition of an inadequate amount of something.
FAQs
How can I correctly use the phrase "feel lack" in a sentence?
The phrase "feel lack" is not grammatically correct in English. Instead, use "feel a lack of" followed by a noun. For example, "I "feel a lack of confidence"" or "They "feel a lack of support"".
What's a more natural way to express "feel lack"?
Instead of "feel lack", consider using phrases like "sense an absence", "feel the absence of", or "feel deprived of" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical structure.
Is it ever correct to say "feel lack" without "a of"?
No, it is generally not considered correct to say "feel lack" without including "a of". The proper construction is "feel a lack of" followed by a noun to describe what is missing or deficient.
What's the difference between "feel a lack of" and "feel lacking"?
"Feel a lack of" describes the sensation of missing something (e.g., "I feel a lack of energy"). "Feel lacking" implies that you perceive yourself or something else as deficient (e.g., "My skills feel lacking compared to hers").
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested