lack of guards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of guards" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It indicates a shortage or absence of security personnel or protectors. Example: The bank was robbed due to the lack of guards on duty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When Mr. Loyrette arrived, 26percentt of the museum's galleries were closed daily for lack of guards, which were still supplied and paid for by the Culture Ministry.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With its courtyard surrounded by two stories of identical rooms, and excepting the lack of guard towers and the presence of a swimming pool, it followed the same architectural model as a prison.

The New Yorker

Histology allowed us to state that the lack of guard hair in rex rabbits was not due to the degenerescence of primary hair follicles.

Plosone

Critics point out that laxer security and a lack of armed guards favour escapes or the abuse of prison as a centre for criminal operations.

The Economist

Because of an editing error, an article on Thursday about the lack of armed guards inside the sprawling gas facility in the Algerian Sahara assaulted by militants last week misstated the number of foreign hostages killed in the siege.

The New York Times

Thus, even in the Louvre, a fifth of the galleries are closed on any given day for lack of security guards, while tight budgets have led many smaller museums to rely on hardware.

The New York Times - Arts

[New York Post] The PTA at the UFT Elementary Charter School, which is run by New York City's teachers' union, is complaining about a lack of security guards, high teacher turnover and poor communication by the school's administrator, Rita Danis.

The New York Times

In 1997, Le Figaro ran a series of articles describing the chateau's problems, which included the fact that the Museum of the History of France, with its 3,000 paintings in 125 galleries, was closed to the public for lack of security guards.

The New York Times - Travel

In the fading light of a winter afternoon, as memorial candles flickered at the accident site, residents gathered to complain about the lack of crossing guards at an intersection where, they said, motorists often ignore the traffic lights and endanger pedestrians in the crosswalks.

The New York Times

Driving themselves around in a city seemingly permeated by secret police, she describes the joys of not having an imposing presence of bodyguards, delighting in how Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, while being driven to dinner by the Assads, marvelled at their seeming lack of security guards.

The Guardian

The Rotterdam art heist made headlines last year due to the thieves' military precision, the lack of security guards on duty and the hefty loot worth between $66 million and $266 million.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing security protocols, specify the type of guards (e.g., security guards, crossing guards) for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "lack of guards" without specifying the context. State where the guards are missing (e.g., "lack of guards at the entrance") for better understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of guards" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It denotes the absence or deficiency of security personnel. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and widespread usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of guards" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that highlights a security deficiency. According to Ludwig AI, it accurately describes situations where security personnel are absent. It's frequently found in "news and media" and "science", with the primary purpose of drawing attention to potential vulnerabilities. When using this phrase, ensure to provide context for clarity and specify the type of guard or location affected for better understanding. Alternatives like "shortage of security personnel" can be used for variety or to emphasize a specific aspect of the deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortage of security personnel

Replaces "lack" with "shortage" and specifies "security personnel" for clarity.

absence of security detail

Emphasizes the complete absence of a security team.

insufficient number of guards

Highlights that the quantity of guards is inadequate.

deficiency in guard deployment

Focuses on the inadequate deployment or arrangement of guards.

inadequate security provision

Broader term focusing on overall security measures being insufficient.

limited number of protectors

Uses "protectors" as a synonym for guards, indicating a limited quantity.

scarcity of watchmen

Employs "scarcity" and "watchmen" for a more descriptive absence of security.

paucity of sentinels

Uses more formal terms to indicate a small number of guards.

security understaffing

Highlights the condition of being understaffed in terms of security.

vulnerability due to absent guards

Highlights the resulting vulnerability from the absence of guards.

FAQs

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

You can use "lack of guards" to describe situations where security personnel are absent, such as, "The robbery was attributed to the "lack of guards" during the night shift."

What are some alternatives to saying "lack of guards"?

Alternatives include "shortage of security personnel", "absence of security detail", or "insufficient number of guards", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "deficiency in guard deployment" instead of "lack of guards"?

Yes, "deficiency in guard deployment" is more formal and technical, suitable for reports or official communication, while "lack of guards" is more common in general conversation and news reporting.

What does it imply when someone mentions a "lack of guards"?

It usually implies increased vulnerability or risk due to inadequate security measures, suggesting a potential for breaches, theft, or other security-related incidents.