lack of competences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of competences" is not correct in standard written English; the correct term is "lack of competence." You can use it when discussing deficiencies in skills or abilities in a particular context, such as in a workplace or educational setting.
Example: "The project failed due to a lack of competence among the team members, which hindered their ability to meet deadlines."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Lack of competences in social communication and internalizing problem behaviors were relatively rare, occurring in about 5 9% of the community sample.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

A third aim was to examine the short-term stability of parent-reported problem behavior and lack of competences between age 14 and 19 months.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The first aim was to examine the occurrence of problem behaviors or lack of competences at younger age that are considered to be psychopathological in later childhood.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Most participants were motivated to identify victims of sexual violence, but their current lack of competences and of appropriate interventions makes the healthcare workers to wait for the victims' initiative.

BMC Health Services Research

> -wrap-foot> Note: Common is defined as >50% with score 1 or 2. Uncommon is defined as <10% with score 1 or 2. Please note further that items covering lack of competences were recoded in such way that a score of 2 represented the complete presence of an unwanted behavior or the complete absence of a wanted behavior.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Not only will it create a sense of loneliness for the individual midwife but midwives may seek to appear competent because they lack the trust and confidence to discuss their lack of competence with colleagues [ 18].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Along with the shortage of trained personnel has come a lack of efficiency and, some say, a lack of competence.

The New York Times - Tech

The doubters cite endemic crime, corruption and a lack of competence as hurdles to national unity and international respect.

The Guardian - Opinion

Another obstacle to research and scholarship is the general lack of competence in European languages among educated Kyrgyz.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What's playing out in some of the current campaigns suggests a lack of competence and even desperation.

The New York Times

He commended the judge for making a distinction between the lack of competence of "some people in the market and the efforts to improve regulation by Lloyd's".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing deficiencies in ability, specify the area or skill where competence is lacking for clarity. For example, "a lack of competence in data analysis" is clearer than just "a lack of competence".

Common error

Avoid using the plural form "competences" when referring to a general lack of ability. "Competence" is typically an uncountable noun in this context. It's better to refer to the "lack of competence", not the "lack of competences".

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as a noun phrase that identifies a deficiency or absence of skills and abilities. While examples exist where "lack of competences" is used, Ludwig indicates that the grammatically correct form is "lack of competence".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of competences" is used to describe a deficiency in skills or abilities. However, as Ludwig indicates, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect; the standard form is "lack of competence". While some examples of "lack of competences" can be found, it is advisable to use the singular form in formal writing. Alternative phrases such as "insufficient skills" or "deficiency in abilities" can also be used to convey a similar meaning. When using the phrase, specifying the area where competence is lacking provides greater clarity. Overall, while understandable, "lack of competences" should be avoided in favor of its grammatically correct counterpart.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of competence

Singular 'competence' instead of plural 'competences' makes it grammatically correct.

insufficient capabilities

Replaces "lack" with "insufficient" and uses a synonym for "competences".

deficiency in skills

Focuses on the practical aspect, using "skills" instead of a more abstract term.

inadequate expertise

Highlights the absence of specialized knowledge or proficiency.

limited proficiency

Emphasizes the restricted level of skill or ability.

skill gap

A more concise term referring to a discrepancy in required versus actual skills.

inability to perform

Focuses on the resulting inability to execute tasks effectively.

want of skill

An archaic phrase for lack of ability or talent.

absence of talent

Emphasizes the missing inherent abilities.

underdeveloped abilities

Highlights that abilities are not fully formed or refined.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "lack of competences"?

The grammatically preferred phrase is "lack of competence". While "lack of competences" might appear in some contexts, it's not considered standard English.

What does "lack of competence" mean?

It refers to a deficiency or absence of the necessary skills, knowledge, or abilities to perform a task or fulfill a role effectively. Consider using phrases like "insufficient skills" or "deficiency in abilities".

How can I use "lack of competence" in a sentence?

Example: "The project's failure was due to a clear lack of competence within the project management team."

What are some alternative ways to express "lack of competences"?

You can use alternatives such as "insufficient capabilities", "inadequate expertise", or "limited proficiency" depending on the specific context.