lacking materials

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lacking materials" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is an absence of necessary items or resources. Example: "The project is currently on hold due to the team lacking materials needed for construction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From an early age she had been interested in drawing, but she did not have access to instruction, and, lacking materials, she was generally limited to drawing on birch bark with a pin or on a sand-covered floor with a stick.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As the critic Anne Midgette recently observed on her blog, it's not as if we're lacking material from the canonical masters.

The New Yorker

The poor in our days may be lacking material things.

WikiHow

In addition, this region was investigated in five samples lacking material for aCGH.

British Journal of Cancer

Actions by Congress, fueled by the National Rifle Association NRAA) in 1996, effectively defunded federal gun research, a still extant legacy, and to date, the CDC website lacks materials on prevention of gun-related injury or violence.

Huffington Post

Most clubs and NGOs lack materials and means of transport to perform outreach activities.

Unicef

Hospital B in particular lacked materials, as significantly fewer staff reported the availability of five types of protective materials (aprons, gumboots, vacutainers, masks and goggles).

BMC Health Services Research

Furtado doesn't lack gumption, but she seriously lacks material.

The Guardian

A novelist never lacks material - only the capacity and energy to handle it.

The Guardian - Books

Perhaps I lacked material from which to grow personalities and psychologies.

The Guardian - Books

For all of their moral force, the deputies utterly lacked material force to counter the king's obvious intentions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lacking materials", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific materials are absent. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "lacking materials" as a vague excuse for project delays or failures. Always specify the exact materials missing and the reasons for their absence to maintain transparency and accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lacking materials" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of deficiency or absence of necessary items. Ludwig AI indicates it's correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lacking materials" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a deficiency in necessary resources. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its function is to highlight an absence, often creating an obstacle. The phrase appears in a variety of contexts, with a slight skew towards formal or professional settings, evidenced by its prevalence in scientific, news, and business-related sources. To enhance clarity, it's best to specify the missing materials. Alternatives like "short on supplies" or "deficient in resources" can be used depending on the intended level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

short on supplies

This alternative focuses on the immediate deficiency of provisions or supplies, which are essential for a specific task or operation.

deficient in resources

This phrase highlights the inadequacy of resources, emphasizing a more systemic or long-term shortage rather than a temporary lack.

without essential resources

This alternative emphasizes the absence of fundamental resources needed for proper functioning or completion of a task.

devoid of necessary items

This phrase stresses the complete absence of the required items, indicating a significant deficiency.

inadequate supplies

This alternative points out that the available supplies are not sufficient to meet the demands or requirements of a given situation.

low on provisions

This expression highlights that the available provisions are nearing depletion, suggesting an impending shortage.

experiencing a shortage of resources

This phrase emphasizes an ongoing situation where there is an insufficient quantity of resources to meet the needs.

strapped for resources

This informal phrase conveys a sense of being under financial or material pressure due to a lack of available resources.

suffering from a dearth of supplies

This alternative stresses a scarcity or lack of something.

in short supply

This phrase simply points out that something is not available in sufficient quantity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lacking materials"?

You can use alternatives like "short on supplies", "deficient in resources", or "without essential resources" depending on the context.

What does it mean when a project is "lacking materials"?

It means that the project does not have enough of the required resources needed to proceed, which can cause delays or halt progress altogether. This term emphasizes the absence of physical items.

Which is more formal, "lacking materials" or "short on supplies"?

"Lacking materials" is generally more formal than "short on supplies". For professional or academic writing, "lacking materials" is usually preferred.

How does the meaning of "lacking materials" differ from "lacking resources"?

"Lacking materials" typically refers to a deficiency in physical items needed for a task. "Lacking resources", on the other hand, can encompass a broader range of deficiencies, including financial, human, or informational resources. Materials are a type of resource.