in lieu of the absence

USAGE SUMMARY

"in lieu of the absence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are replacing something missing or absent with something else. For example, "The store ran out of apples, so I bought pears in lieu of the absence of apples."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

3rd over: Australia 16-0 (Hayden 2 Gilchrist 14) Vaas has straightened his line in lieu of the absence of movement in the air.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We tend to think of Mr. Stewart, who is appearing in HAROLD PINTER's "Caretaker," as a serious thespian (in lieu of the sorry absence of conga lines, try saying that fast), but Mr. Stewart, who was looking very 8 by 10 glossy in black tie, said he had spent his childhood in England going to American movie musicals.

The New York Times

In lieu of the present absence of ASME or other international test codes developed for this purpose, the NREL undertook the development of interim Guidelines to provide recommendations for test procedures that can yield results of a high level of accuracy consistent with good engineering knowledge and practice.

Energy Procedia

In the absence of a CRE, the entire promoter sequence was characterized in lieu of the sought sub-sequence.

BMC Genomics

They simply cannot function in lieu of the schools.

The New York Times - Arts

(The Red Crescent was adopted in lieu of the Red Cross in Muslim countries).

Encyclopedia Britannica

An endotracheal tube was then placed in lieu of the PLMA for airway maintenance.

Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwanica

The canal will provide an alternative route in lieu of the congested Strait of Malacca.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

It is optional for draught type horses in lieu of the pulling test, and for pony-sized horses in lieu of the rideability test.

Wikipedia

"In lieu of the termination of the firm, she chose to resign".

Los Angeles Times

Again, ∼1×108 free Wip1 particles were added in lieu of the donor lysogens in some experiments.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider whether a simpler phrase like "instead of" or "due to the lack of" might be more direct and easier for your audience to understand.

Common error

Avoid using "in lieu of the absence" when a more concise expression captures the intended meaning. Simpler wording enhances clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in lieu of the absence" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate a substitution made necessary by a lack or absence. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct but can be wordy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in lieu of the absence" is grammatically correct but infrequently used, serving as a prepositional phrase to indicate a substitution due to something missing. As noted by Ludwig, simpler alternatives like "instead of" are often preferred for clarity. While understandable in formal contexts, its complexity makes it less common in everyday language. When writing, consider if a more direct phrasing would better suit your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of the absence

Replaces "in lieu of" with "instead of", offering a more common synonym while retaining the focus on the absence.

as a substitute for the absence

Emphasizes the substitution aspect more explicitly.

in place of the absence

Similar to "instead of", providing a direct replacement.

to compensate for the absence

Highlights the act of making up for something that is missing.

in consideration of the absence

Shifts the focus to taking the absence into account when making a decision.

given the absence

Indicates that something is done because of the existing absence.

due to the lack of

Focuses on the reason for needing an alternative.

in the absence of a replacement

Highlights that a replacement is needed because nothing else is present.

for want of the absence

An archaic phrase that emphasizes the need or lack of something, therefore an absence.

to remedy the absence

Focuses on correcting or improving something through a replacement of an absence.

FAQs

What does "in lieu of the absence" mean?

It means "instead of because something is missing". It suggests a substitution made necessary by a lack of something.

Is it better to say "in lieu of the absence" or /s/instead+of?

In most contexts, /s/instead+of is a simpler and more direct alternative. While "in lieu of the absence" is grammatically correct, it can sound verbose.

When might I use "in lieu of the absence"?

You might use it for emphasis or in formal writing where you want to explicitly highlight that a substitution is occurring specifically because something is absent. However, simpler phrasings are often preferred.

What are some phrases similar to "in lieu of the absence"?

Similar phrases include "instead of the absence", "as a substitute for the absence", or "in place of the absence". These all convey the idea of replacing something due to a lack.