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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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lack of relevancy

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of relevancy" is not correct; the correct term is "lack of relevance." You can use it when discussing something that is not pertinent or applicable to a particular topic or situation.
Example: "The report was dismissed due to its lack of relevance to the current project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He added, "Its flawed methodology and lack of relevancy to the current immigration reform proposal relegate this study to irrelevancy".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The alternative, as we've seen, will be a complete lack of relevancy for the brand.

News & Media

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Still, advocates say fee hikes could have an oversize impact on communities of color by creating a new disincentive for groups that have stayed away from, or felt discouraged from, visiting national parks, for reasons including fearful historical associations with wilderness areas and a perceived lack of cultural relevancy.

So instead of searching for web resources with the string 'QTL' with its lack of contextual relevancy, we seek a method to provide users with a way to find services that operate on formal QTL objects and other data types based on well defined data models.

Each of the neuropathological features reviewed above in the context of their clinical relevancy (or lack of) has been discussed recently [ 1].

But Bill Carrick, a Democratic political strategist, is not worried about a gulf of relevancy.

News & Media

The New York Times

There's no money in it, no fame, little chance of "relevancy".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The concepts of relevancy, coherency, and equivalence are used to characterize the properties of such systems.

Council Post: In The Age Of Relevancy, Will Impressions Matter?

News & Media

Forbes

Well, for the definition of "relevancy" to lose its murkiness.

News & Media

Forbes

As he put it, "[t]he law furnishes no test of relevancy.

Science

SEP
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lack of relevance" instead of "lack of relevancy" for grammatical correctness. Although "relevancy" exists, "relevance" is standard.

Common error

Avoid using "relevancy" in formal writing; opt for the more widely accepted and grammatically sound "relevance".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of relevancy" functions as a noun phrase indicating a deficiency in pertinence or applicability. As noted by Ludwig AI, the grammatically preferred form is "lack of relevance".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "lack of relevancy" is understandable, it is grammatically incorrect; the accurate and preferred term is "lack of relevance". Ludwig AI highlights this distinction, recommending "relevance" over "relevancy" in formal contexts. The phrase serves to indicate a deficiency in pertinence or significance, and its usage spans across both news media and scientific domains. For clarity and grammatical correctness, always opt for "lack of relevance".

FAQs

Is "lack of relevancy" grammatically correct?

No, the grammatically correct phrase is "lack of relevance". While "relevancy" is a valid word, it's less common and often considered less formal than "relevance".

What does "lack of relevance" mean?

It means that something is not pertinent, applicable, or significant to the matter being considered. It suggests a disconnect or absence of importance in a given context.

Can I use "relevancy" instead of "relevance"?

While "relevancy" is a valid word, it's less common and may sound awkward in formal writing. "Relevance" is generally preferred for its clarity and wider acceptance.

What are some alternatives to "lack of relevance"?

You could use alternatives such as "lack of pertinence", "irrelevance", or "inapplicability" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: