lack of supports

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of supports" is not entirely correct in standard written English; it should be "lack of support." You can use it when discussing insufficient assistance or resources in various contexts, such as education, mental health, or project management.
Example: "The students struggled academically due to a lack of support from their teachers and parents."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

My mom justifies the lack of supports at the time I am writing this by saying it's a game.

Huffington Post

Sapers has long decried the use of solitary confinement in Canada's correctional facilities, as well as the lack of supports available for mentally ill prisoners.

Vice

In this study, lack of supports meant residents felt less in control of their ability to do regular activity.

BMC Public Health

16 These inequities are associated with HIV-related stigma, fear, financial constraints, transportation and system barriers, and a lack of supports within marginalised communities.

BMJ Open

Previous reports and research have suggested there are a variety of barriers at play for youth accessing adequate shelter: affordability, discrimination from landlords, alienation and isolation, lack of services for specific subgroups, lack of supports for 16 18 year olds, age of majority cut-off, lack of system flow and a lack of a provincial youth housing strategy [ 51].

BMC Public Health

Outside of a lack of supports, all but one of the women described experiencing trauma, from loss through miscarriages to rape, to the emotional trauma of aborting a child conceived from that rape, to leaving home at age thirteen and getting "thrown in county jail" (Participant 2) for working the streets, to losing daughters from AIDS.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The lack of support?

The New York Times

So why the lack of support?

The Guardian

Zawahiri bristled at bin Laden's lack of support.

The New Yorker

"There's no lack of support from the agency.

The New York Times

Meanwhile victims' families complain about lack of support.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing insufficient assistance, use the phrase "lack of support" for grammatical correctness. "Lack of supports" is less common and may be perceived as incorrect by some readers.

Common error

Avoid using the plural form "supports" when referring to a general absence of aid. The singular noun "support" is the standard and grammatically correct choice in most contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of supports" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing a deficiency or absence. However, it's important to note that Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is not entirely correct in standard written English; the preferred form is "lack of support."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

57%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of supports" refers to a deficiency in assistance or resources. While used in some contexts, especially News & Media and Science, it's crucial to recognize that Ludwig AI indicates it's not the most grammatically sound choice. The standard form, "lack of support", is generally preferred. When writing, consider the context and audience. For formal writing, "lack of support" is advisable. Alternatives like "insufficient assistance" or "inadequate resources" can also be used to convey similar meanings. Pay close attention to grammatical correctness and choose the phrasing that best suits your intended audience and the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of adequate assistance

This alternative adds the qualifier 'adequate' to explicitly state the insufficiency of the help provided.

insufficient assistance

Replaces "lack" with "insufficient" and "supports" with "assistance", focusing on inadequate help.

inadequate resources

Emphasizes the scarcity of necessary resources, shifting the focus from general support to tangible provisions.

deficiency in resources

Similar to inadequate resources, but uses more technical or formal language.

absence of aid

Highlights the complete absence of help, using more formal language.

paucity of assistance

Emphasizes the scarcity of help available, using formal language.

dearth of assistance

Implies a severe lack of help using a more literary tone.

shortage of backing

Focuses on the deficiency of endorsement or financial support.

scant support

Highlights the limited amount of backing provided.

limited support system

Specifies that the support available is restricted or not comprehensive.

FAQs

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

While you might encounter the phrase "lack of supports", the more widely accepted and grammatically sound option is "lack of support". The word "support" is generally used as an uncountable noun in this context.

What's the difference between "lack of support" and "lack of supports"?

"Lack of support" is the standard and generally preferred phrasing, referring to a general absence or deficiency. "Lack of supports" is less common and might imply a deficiency in multiple distinct supporting elements, though this usage is often viewed as incorrect.

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

You can use "lack of support" to describe situations where assistance, resources, or encouragement are missing. For example: "The project failed due to a lack of support from management."

What are some alternatives to "lack of support"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "insufficient assistance", "inadequate resources", or "absence of aid" to convey a similar meaning.