has been deficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been deficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that has been lacking or insufficient over a period of time. Example: "The report indicates that the funding for the project has been deficient, leading to delays in its completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Investment in other crucial areas of the economy, including the electrical network, has been deficient and in much of the country there are regular power failures.

The New York Times

The attorney general has great discretion in deciding how much energy to devote to protecting civil rights, broadening civil liberties, keeping society free of crime, enforcing the antitrust laws and making sure that the president and his cabinet members are held to the same high standards -- an area in which the job's present occupant, Janet Reno, has been deficient.

The New York Times

But this month, Beijing reported that Uyghur Muslim "terrorists" in Xinjiang had tried to blow up a plane while, in Tibet, Beijing says the past week's events have all been the result of a plot by the Dalai Lama - which indicates that its intelligence and suppression of "splittists" has been deficient, to say the least.

The Guardian - Opinion

The government has been deficient in cyber defense and needs to invest similarly.

TechCrunch

The provision of essential nutrition-related content in US medical education has been deficient, despite efforts of the federal government and multiple professional organizations.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who has oversight of Universal Credit as part of his civil service reform role, said it was a "very hard-hitting" and "useful" report which highlighted wider problems in Whitehall: "We are not that good at financial control... but also project management has been deficient for a long time".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

All the proposals have been deficient, and we have no movement in the right direction.

The New York Times

"I think psychologically preparing the public is something we've been deficient at," Mr. Larsen said.

The New York Times

"We have to take investigations against guerrillas, which have been deficient, and elevate them," he said.

The New York Times

Mr. Ricketts conceded that the "sequencing" of his lobbying key public officials had been deficient.

The New York Times

He said The Times's coverage had been "deficient by any reasonable standards of fairness".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been deficient" when you want to indicate that something has consistently lacked a necessary quality or quantity over a period. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts where a direct assessment is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "has been deficient" in very informal settings or conversations. Simpler alternatives like "wasn't good enough" or "lacked something" may be more appropriate for casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been deficient" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject's state of inadequacy or lack. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, denoting a continuing state of lacking a necessary quality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been deficient" is a grammatically sound and moderately frequent expression used to describe something that lacks a necessary quality over a period. Ludwig AI validates its use in various formal contexts, including news, science, and business, as the examples make reference to. While effective in professional and neutral settings, it may be too formal for casual conversations. Consider alternatives like ""has been inadequate"" or ""has been lacking"" depending on the specific context to tailor your message more precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been inadequate

Replaces 'deficient' with 'inadequate', suggesting a lack of sufficiency.

has been lacking

Emphasizes the absence of something needed, similar to 'deficient'.

has fallen short

Implies a failure to meet a required standard or expectation.

has been insufficient

Similar to 'inadequate', but may emphasize a specific quantifiable lack.

has been subpar

Indicates performance or quality below the expected level.

has been imperfect

Highlights flaws or shortcomings, implying less than ideal quality.

has been wanting

Suggests something is missing or needed, creating a sense of lack.

has proved wanting

Adds a component of proving or being revealed to be deficient.

has not sufficed

Focuses on the failure to be enough or adequate for a particular purpose.

has been defective

Indicates a flaw or malfunction, suggesting something is not working correctly.

FAQs

How can I use "has been deficient" in a sentence?

You can use "has been deficient" to describe something that lacks an essential quality or element. For example, "The funding for education "has been deficient", leading to overcrowded classrooms".

What are some alternatives to "has been deficient"?

Alternatives include "has been inadequate", "has been lacking", or "has fallen short". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "has been deficient" a formal phrase?

Yes, "has been deficient" is generally considered a formal phrase. It's suitable for professional, academic, or journalistic writing. In casual conversation, simpler terms might be preferred.

What's the difference between "has been deficient" and "was deficient"?

"Has been deficient" implies a condition that persisted over a period. "Was deficient" simply states that something lacked a necessary quality at a specific point in time. For instance, "The system "has been deficient" for years" suggests an ongoing problem, while "The system was deficient" indicates a problem at a particular moment.