insufficient turnout

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "insufficient turnout" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the number of participants or voters is lower than expected or required. Example: "The event was deemed a failure due to the insufficient turnout of attendees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A recent government-initiated referendum to oppose EU plans to settle refugees failed because of insufficient turnout, but it stirred up inflammatory xenophobic and racist rhetoric.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Slovaks' experience with direct democracy has been bleak: five of the six plebiscites held since independence in 1993 have failed, either due to insufficient turnout or political interference.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A9 Albanian Referendum Failing A referendum to end the autonomy granted to Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority appeared headed toward defeat because of insufficient voter turnout.

The New York Times

While the "yes" votes prevailed in both instances, the voter turnout failed to exceed 50 per cent and was therefore insufficient to make the decisions binding under the Municipal Act.

Wikipedia

But the Sunni turnout, high in some cities like Mosul, low in others like Ramadi, appeared to be insufficient to defeat the new charter. 1 Illegal Logging Rises in Amazon Timber harvesting is booming in the Brazilian Amazon despite new, more rigorous regulations and repeated pledges by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to crack down on those pillaging the world's largest tropical rain forest.

The New York Times

According to this model, my friends who chose to cope with their dissatisfaction by deciding to exit by opting-out were also implicitly deciding that Facebook's official channels for voice were insufficient, such as the conversation on site governance or voting on the new Terms of Service (and, with a turnout of only 0.32%, they might even be right).

TechCrunch

Insufficient emotion.

The New Yorker

— insufficient consciousness.

The New York Times - Arts

Insufficient evidence.

The Guardian

But the issue is turnout, turnout, turnout.

The Guardian

High turnout?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing elections or referendums, consider quantifying "insufficient turnout" with specific percentages or numbers to provide a clearer picture of the situation.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "insufficient turnout" without providing context. While low turnout can affect outcomes, it's important to consider other contributing factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insufficient turnout" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object in a sentence, describing a situation where the level of participation is inadequate for a specific purpose, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "insufficient turnout" effectively describes a situation where participation is lower than needed or expected, typically resulting in an unsuccessful outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and most frequently used in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in tone, remember to quantify the lack of participation whenever possible, and avoid exaggerating its impact without context. For more formal scenarios, consider alternatives like "inadequate participation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

low participation rate

Focuses on the proportion of people participating rather than the absolute number.

poor attendance

Highlights the lack of people being present.

inadequate number of attendees

More formal way of expressing that not enough people came.

underwhelming participation

Emphasizes the disappointing level of involvement.

sparse attendance

Indicates that only a few people were present.

limited voter turnout

Specifically refers to voting contexts and restricted participation.

meager attendance figures

Emphasizes the small and unsatisfactory numbers.

sub-par participation levels

Indicates that the participation did not meet the expected standard.

thinly attended

A more descriptive way of saying that few people showed up.

poorly attended

Simple and direct way of expressing the lack of attendance.

FAQs

How can I use "insufficient turnout" in a sentence?

You can use "insufficient turnout" to describe situations where participation in an event or vote was lower than required for a specific outcome or lower than expected. For example, "The referendum failed due to "insufficient turnout"".

What are some alternatives to "insufficient turnout"?

Alternatives include "low participation rate", "poor attendance", or "inadequate number of attendees" depending on the specific context.

Is "insufficient turnout" formal or informal?

"Insufficient turnout" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "inadequate participation" might be preferred in highly formal settings.

What causes "insufficient turnout"?

"Insufficient turnout" can be caused by various factors, including voter apathy, lack of awareness, inconvenient timing, or dissatisfaction with the available options.