lack of discernment

USAGE SUMMARY

'lack of discernment' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation in which someone is unable to make a wise or informed decision about something. For example, "The politician's lack of discernment resulted in disastrous consequences for the nation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

This reveals a deplorable lack of discernment.

The New York Times

"But there was a lack of discernment in the execution of the operation," he said.

The New York Times

While recognizing that a small handful of people are true connoisseurs, he said his experiments with people interested in wine revealed a startling lack of discernment.

The New York Times

"It is that lack of wisdom, that lack of foresight, that lack of discernment on the part of Frank Lautenberg that has put us in a vulnerable position," Mr. Forrester added.

The New York Times

Though I was unaware of Stephen Fry's comments concerning the lack of discernment we Americans seem to evince in evaluating British actors, this subject has long been a source of great mirth among my set.

The New York Times

Since 1810 and the enactment of article 64 of the Penal Code, the lack of discernment due to a mental disease has become a cause of penal immunity.

Annales Médico-psychologiques, revue psychiatrique

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

By all accounts, the video exposes a shocking display of excessive force and lack of professional discernment.

Huffington Post

Vallat said that the child's lack of "moral discernment" and inability to fully understand the effect of his comments should have prompted a different course of action, such as "the referral of the matter to the police youth division".

Vice

A lousy restaurant, after all, often has as much to do with the lack of care and discernment on the part of its customers as it does with the establishment itself.

The New York Times

Larijani acknowledged that while the assembly has responsibility for "discerning the possession of the qualities of leadership or lack thereof... the issue of discernment is distinct from supervision, and the two are not interdependent".

The Guardian

That some incompetents double as grifters reflects Trump's comprehensive lack of ethics and moral discernment.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lack of discernment", ensure the context clearly indicates what area the discernment is lacking in. For instance, "lack of discernment in financial matters" provides more clarity than simply "lack of discernment".

Common error

Avoid embedding "lack of discernment" within overly complex sentence structures. This can make the writing seem convoluted and obscure the intended meaning. Opt for simpler phrasing for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of discernment" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the absence of the ability to judge well. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts describing failures in perception and decision-making.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lack of discernment" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that signifies a deficiency in someone's ability to make sound judgments or perceive subtle differences. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Science. While not overly common, it serves an important descriptive and critical function. When using this phrase, it's best to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity and to avoid using it in overly complex sentence structures. Alternatives such as "poor judgment" or "absence of insight" can provide nuanced substitutes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor judgment

Replaces "discernment" with "judgment", focusing on the quality of decisions made.

absence of insight

Emphasizes the missing quality of understanding the underlying nature of things.

want of perception

Highlights the deficiency in the ability to become aware of something through the senses.

deficiency in understanding

Focuses on the incomplete or insufficient comprehension of a subject.

inability to distinguish

Points to the failure in being able to differentiate between options or qualities.

failure to recognize

Highlights the act of not acknowledging or identifying something important.

limited awareness

Suggests a restricted range of knowledge or consciousness.

scant regard

Indicates insufficient attention or consideration given to something.

foolishness

This is a more general and informal way to indicate a lack of good judgement.

imprudence

Conveys a lack of wisdom or good judgment, particularly in practical affairs.

FAQs

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

You can use "lack of discernment" to describe someone's inability to make sound judgments. For instance, "His "lack of discernment" led to a series of poor decisions".

What are some alternatives to "lack of discernment"?

Alternatives include "poor judgment", "absence of insight", or "limited awareness" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "lack of discernment" formal or informal?

"Lack of discernment" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase. It is suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts, but might sound slightly stilted in very informal conversation.

What's the difference between "lack of discernment" and "lack of judgment"?

While similar, "lack of discernment" implies a failure to perceive or recognize subtle but important distinctions, whereas "lack of judgment" suggests a general inability to make sound decisions. "Lack of discernment" relates more to perception, while "lack of judgment" concerns decision-making.