lack of humanitarian

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of humanitarian" is not correct in English.
It should be "lack of humanitarianism" or "lack of humanitarian aid." You can use it when discussing the absence of humanitarian efforts or principles in a specific context. Example: "The region is suffering due to a lack of humanitarian aid, leaving many without basic necessities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"The main challenge is the lack of humanitarian access," said Dentice.

The Guardian

Last year, since the main rainy season was very good, and a bumper harvest ensued, the effect of the lack of humanitarian access was not clear.

The Guardian

The situation in Somalia is more acute because of the fighting between al-Shabab and other militias, the absence of effective government and lack of humanitarian access.

The Guardian

Senior officials on the Syrian opposition umbrella negotiating body have resigned over the lack of progress of the talks, breaches of the ceasefire and lack of humanitarian access.

The Guardian

The report cited decreasing purchasing power parity of agricultural day labourers, floods and the lack of humanitarian assistance as possible reasons for the malnutrition crisis.

The Guardian

"The lack of humanitarian aid to displaced Rohingya a full year after initial displacement is indefensible and amounts to the international crime of persecution.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The opposition notified de Mistura of its concern about a lack of promised humanitarian aid to besieged Syrians and detainees held in government prisons.

The Washington Post

"It is deeply disturbing that the initial steps of the talks have been undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access, and by a sudden increase of aerial bombing and military activities within Syria.

The Guardian

The situation is made worse by the lack of crucial humanitarian aid reaching Yemen, which continues to be blocked by the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition.

Vice

"It is deeply disturbing that the initial steps of the talks have been undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access and by a sudden increase of aerial bombings and military activities within Syria," said Ban. Related: The Syrian Regime Is Close to a Victory That Could Turn the War.

Vice

But lack of international humanitarian access is hastening the deterioration of the situation.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "lack of humanitarian aid" over "lack of humanitarian" if the intent is to highlight the absence of assistance. Although the latter is broadly understood, it is technically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using "lack of humanitarian" in overly broad contexts. Instead, clarify what specifically is lacking (e.g., "lack of humanitarian access", "lack of humanitarian support") to ensure precise communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of humanitarian" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates the absence or deficiency of something related to humanitarian efforts. As Ludwig AI points out, it is technically incorrect and specifying is recommended.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lack of humanitarian" is commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies it as technically incorrect. It is better to specify what exactly is lacking, such as "lack of humanitarian aid" or "lack of humanitarian access". This is because the word humanitarian is an adjective and needs a noun for which it can specify the quality. While widely understood, clarity and precision are improved by specifying what aspect of humanitarian efforts is deficient. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. So, although common, aiming for the more grammatically sound and specific phrases such as "absence of humanitarian aid", ensures more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of humanitarian aid

Replaces "lack" with "absence" and clarifies the object as "aid."

shortage of humanitarian assistance

Substitutes "lack" with "shortage" and "humanitarian" with "assistance."

deficiency in humanitarian support

Uses "deficiency" instead of "lack" and "support" instead of "humanitarian."

inadequate humanitarian response

Focuses on the response being inadequate rather than a general lack.

insufficient humanitarian relief

Replaces "lack" with "insufficient" and uses "relief" to specify the type of humanitarian effort.

limited humanitarian access

Highlights the restricted access for humanitarian efforts, implying a lack.

scarcity of humanitarian resources

Emphasizes the limited availability of resources for humanitarian purposes.

paucity of humanitarian efforts

Uses "paucity" to denote a small quantity of humanitarian actions.

restricted humanitarian operations

Focuses on operations being restricted which leads to the implied meaning of lack.

lack of humanitarianism

Replaces "humanitarian" with "humanitarianism", focusing on the absence of the principle or sentiment.

FAQs

What is the difference between "lack of humanitarian" and "lack of humanitarian aid"?

"Lack of humanitarian" is grammatically questionable, while "lack of humanitarian "aid"" is more precise and commonly accepted. The latter clearly refers to the absence of assistance.

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

While "lack of humanitarian" is used, it's better to be specific. For example: "The region is suffering due to a lack of humanitarian "access"." Alternatively, use "absence of humanitarian "support"".

Which phrase is more correct, "lack of humanitarian assistance" or "inadequate humanitarian assistance"?

Both are acceptable, but "inadequate humanitarian "assistance"" focuses on the quality or sufficiency of aid, while "lack of humanitarian "assistance"" emphasizes its absence.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "lack of humanitarian"?

Consider using phrases like "absence of humanitarian "aid"", "shortage of humanitarian "assistance"", or "deficiency in humanitarian "support"" to convey a similar meaning with greater precision.