lacking of imagination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lacking of imagination" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "lacking imagination." You can use it to describe someone or something that does not exhibit creativity or originality. Example: "The movie was enjoyable, but the plot was lacking imagination and felt predictable."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I don't feel its too much work to bring a great visual style to a musician, its the lacking of imagination that is perhaps making it unapparent.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He's so wildly imaginative in a field which often suffers for lack of imagination," Ms. Gould said.

The New York Times - Arts

Lack of imagination?

The New York Times

A lack of imagination.

The Guardian

That shows a lack of imagination.

The Guardian

Lack of imagination to go forward?

The New York Times - Travel

Lack of imagination keeps me comfortable.

The Guardian - Opinion

It also suggests a lack of imagination.

The Guardian

It's the lack of imagination.

The Guardian

It's a lack of imagination, a lack of vision".

The Guardian

But this is not evidence of a lack of imagination.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "lacking of imagination" might be understood, it's better to use "lacking imagination" or "a lack of imagination". These alternatives are grammatically correct and more common in standard English.

Common error

Avoid including "of" after "lacking" when describing what is missing. For example, say "lacking imagination" instead of "lacking of imagination". The phrase "a lack of imagination" is also correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lacking of imagination" functions as a descriptive phrase intended to modify a noun, indicating a deficiency in creativity or originality. While Ludwig identifies its usage, it also flags it as grammatically questionable, suggesting the alternatives are preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lacking of imagination" appears in some contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests the correct forms are "lacking imagination" or "a lack of imagination". Using these alternatives ensures grammatical accuracy and aligns with standard English usage. The phrase is rare and, when encountered, appears primarily in news and media sources. For clarity and precision, opting for the grammatically sound alternatives is advisable in both formal and informal writing. The example from Ludwig represents an outlier in a sea of more standard constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking creativity

More direct and commonly used alternative.

unimaginative

Single-word adjective directly expressing the absence of imagination.

devoid of imagination

More emphatic way to describe absence of imagination; stronger and more formal.

without creativity

Focuses on the absence of creative ability.

uninspired

Suggests a lack of motivation or spark for imaginative thought.

bereft of vision

Emphasizes the absence of foresight and innovative thinking.

limited vision

Focuses on the restricted capacity for imaginative or strategic thought.

absence of ingenuity

Highlights the lack of cleverness and inventiveness.

impoverished imagination

Suggests a weakened or deficient imaginative capacity.

sterile imagination

Implies an unproductive or barren imaginative faculty.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "lacking of imagination"?

No, the correct phrasing is "lacking imagination" or "a lack of imagination". The inclusion of "of" after "lacking" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "lacking imagination" and "a lack of imagination"?

"Lacking imagination" is a participial phrase acting as an adjective, while "a lack of imagination" is a noun phrase. Both are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning, but they're used differently in sentences. For example: "The project was "lacking imagination"" versus "There was "a lack of imagination" in the project".

What can I say instead of "lacking of imagination"?

You can use alternatives such as "lacking imagination", "a lack of imagination", "unimaginative", or "devoid of imagination" depending on the context.

How do I use "lacking imagination" in a sentence?

You can use "lacking imagination" to describe something that does not exhibit creativity or originality. For example, "The plot was "lacking imagination" and felt predictable."