fill in the missing words

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fill in the missing words" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to complete a sentence or text by providing the words that are absent. Example: "In the exercise, you need to fill in the missing words to complete the sentences correctly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The sample passages are then returned to the author, who is asked to fill in the missing words.

The New York Times - Books

Then she deleted all the nouns — and in turn, the verbs and adjectives — forcing the students to fill in the missing words and learn their meaning.

The New York Times

She'd have her nieces and nephews fill in the missing words and phrases; then, in an art gallery in Italy, Isabella Rossellini would sit and recite the Mad Libs (the script delivered to her by Clark via an earpiece, to add a layer of awkwardness) to a soundtrack of chopped-up, sort-of-recognizable Verdi and a monitor playing clips of Mussolini himself.

The New Yorker

Know what you have to do with the information:Do you have to complete a sentence, or fill in the missing words in a sentence?

WikiHow

I'm beginning to enjoy playing "fill in the missing words".

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This can sometimes be corrected with software that fills in the missing words.

The New York Times - Tech

Either a picture or contextual cues within the sentence were provided to enable the participant to fill in the missing word.

Applied Psycholinguistics

I hit the button, and Easy Word filled in the missing word.

TechCrunch

as opposed to neutral words, or filling in the missing letters of word stems.

Huffington Post

Ferguson and his team point out that many laboratory-based studies into the effect of media violence have measured aggression in test subjects through "less aggressive outcomes ranging from filling in the missing letters of words through delivering nonpainful noise bursts to a consenting opponent".

Independent

In their system, cloze test items were generated by removing one or more words from a passage and the learners were asked to fill the missing words.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Provide sufficient context when asking someone to "fill in the missing words" to ensure they can accurately complete the task.

Common error

Avoid assuming that readers will automatically understand the context. Always provide enough information so they can accurately "fill in the missing words".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fill in the missing words" functions as an instructional directive, prompting the user to complete a text by adding omitted words. It directly asks for active participation in restoring completeness. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

22%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fill in the missing words" is a grammatically sound and commonly used directive, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to instruct someone to complete a text by adding the absent words, thus testing comprehension and vocabulary. It is versatile in register, suitable for both formal and informal settings, but providing clear context is crucial for effective communication. Related phrases offer semantic alternatives, each with slightly different nuances. By understanding its function, purpose, and appropriate usage, writers can effectively guide their audience in completing textual information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete the missing words

This alternative focuses on finishing or making whole by adding what's absent.

supply the missing words

Emphasizes providing or furnishing the absent words.

fill the gaps in the text

Uses the metaphor of 'gaps' to represent the missing words.

insert the missing words

Focuses on placing or adding the absent words into the text.

provide the missing terms

Uses 'terms' as a more formal synonym for 'words'.

write in the missing words

Specifies the action of physically writing the missing words.

add the missing words

A simpler and more direct way of saying the same thing.

enter the missing words

Suggests typing or inputting the missing words, often in a digital context.

populate the missing words

Implies filling the spaces with the appropriate words.

reconstruct the missing words

Focuses on rebuilding or recreating the absent words based on context.

FAQs

What does "fill in the missing words" mean?

It means to complete a sentence, text, or exercise by adding the words that have been omitted or are absent. It often involves understanding the context to determine the correct words to use.

What can I say instead of "fill in the missing words"?

You can use alternatives like "complete the sentence", "supply the missing terms", or "fill the gaps depending on the context.

How do I use "fill in the missing words" in a sentence?

You can use it in a sentence like: "The exercise requires you to "fill in the missing words" to complete each sentence." or "Please "fill in the missing words" in the paragraph below."

Is it correct to say "fill in the missing word" instead of "fill in the missing words"?

Yes, if you are referring to a single missing word. The singular form "fill in the missing word" is appropriate when only one word is absent, while the plural form "fill in the missing words" is used when there are multiple words to be added.