for lack of time

USAGE SUMMARY

"for lack of time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where there simply isn't enough time to do something. For example, "I had to skip the meeting, for lack of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

For lack of time, I'm gonna skip this.

University of California, Berkeley

This meant that various key awards were cancelled for lack of time.

The New Yorker

Reporters could not press him to identify the mistakes for lack of time.

The New York Times

She turns down some invitations to speak to classes for lack of time.

The New York Times

More have contacted him, he said, but "we haven't been able to schedule, just for lack of time".

The New York Times

For lack of time, case law and procedural rules may be read on the way to court.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

For example, the solution for lack of face time is to setup more face time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A broader measure of joblessness that includes people working part time for lack of full-time positions and those who have given up looking for work out of frustration rose to 17.5percentt from 17percentt.

The Washington Post

The so-called underemployment rate — which counts people who have given up looking for work and those who are working part time for lack of full-time positions — now sits at 17.3 percent.

The New York Times

The so-called underemployment rate — which counts people whose hours have been cut along with those working part time for lack of full-time positions — reached 16.8 percent, up from 16.5 percent in January.

The New York Times

That trend continued in October: The so-called underemployment rate — which includes people working part-time for lack of full-time positions and those who have given up looking for work — rose to 11.8percentt, up from 8.4percentt a year earlier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for lack of time" to provide a concise explanation for why something was not completed or fully addressed.

Common error

Avoid using "for lack of time" as a blanket excuse without providing context. If possible, briefly explain what was sacrificed or shortened due to the time constraint for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for lack of time" functions as an adverbial phrase or a causal adjunct, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason why something was not done or could not be done adequately. It provides a cause or explanation. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for lack of time" is a commonly used phrase to indicate that something was omitted or altered due to time constraints. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct and widely accepted expression in English. It is most frequently found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to provide specific context about what was affected by the lack of time. Alternatives such as "due to time constraints" or "time was insufficient" can be used for variety. Understanding how and when to use "for lack of time" can enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to time constraints

Focuses on the limitations imposed by a restricted time frame.

time was insufficient

Directly states that the amount of time was not adequate.

limited time available

Highlights the scarcity of time resources.

time did not permit

Indicates that the time available was not enough to allow something to happen.

because of temporal limitations

Uses more formal language to express the constraints of time.

owing to time shortage

Emphasizes the deficiency in the amount of time.

time constraints prevented

Focuses on prevention due to limited timeframe.

shortage of time

Simple statement that there was not enough time.

under time pressure

Highlights the stress caused by lack of time.

had no time

Very straightforward, informal way to say time was lacking.

FAQs

How can I use "for lack of time" in a sentence?

You can use "for lack of time" to explain why an action was not completed or was abbreviated. For example, "The presentation was cut short, "for lack of time".".

What phrases are similar to "for lack of time"?

Similar phrases include "due to time constraints", "time was insufficient", or "limited time available".

Is it appropriate to use "for lack of time" in formal writing?

Yes, "for lack of time" is appropriate for formal writing, but ensure the tone and context align with the overall formality of the document. More formal alternatives like "because of temporal limitations" may also be considered.

Can I begin a sentence with "for lack of time"?

While less common, it is grammatically acceptable to start a sentence with "for lack of time" for emphasis. For example, "For lack of time, key details were omitted."