lacks at present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lacks at present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is currently missing or unavailable. Example: "The project lacks at present the necessary funding to proceed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

All that Brasserie Mollière lacks at present are bustling crowds.

The New York Times

Outsiders think that its merger team needs a dedicated economics branch to conduct objective research into markets in which deals are likely to be contentious, something it lacks at present.

The Economist

The AADL standard itself lacks at present a formal semantics to make this translation validation possible.

Journal of Systems and Software

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Consumer confidence is high, and a sense of panic is lacking at present.

The New York Times

He agrees, too, that Tennant is good, but "what's lacking, at present, is weight and depth.

The Guardian

The G7 may have made some mistakes in the 1980s, but there was a political will to deal with economic problems that seems to be completely lacking at present.

The Economist

Meanwhile, the work on the electrodes dependent RS phenomenon of the trilayer-structure RRAM is also rather lacking at present.

Nanoscale Research Letters

At pilot and demonstration scale fewer investigations are available and a thorough knowledge on the concrete applicability of HFMCs under realistic conditions is still lacking at present.

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

This requires a unified and clearly articulated strategy, and we find that lacking at present".

Los Angeles Times

An infrastructure bank, the mechanics of which -- as someone who understands public finance and sophisticated financing structures pretty thoroughly -- either have escaped me entirely or just have not been presented because they are lacking at present; d.

Huffington Post

Without manipulation nor speculation, with rational government initiatives that are totally lacking at present, the price of oil should be $30/bbl and probably less (doubters, please note the quoted price of oil was $33/barrel just about a year ago).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lacks at present", ensure the context clearly indicates what is missing and why it matters. This phrase is best suited for formal writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "lacks at present" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "is missing" or "doesn't have" are often more appropriate and natural in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lacks at present" primarily functions as a stative verb phrase indicating a current deficiency or absence. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is usable in written English. It describes a state of being where something is missing or not available at the current time. For example, "All that Brasserie Mollière lacks at present are bustling crowds."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lacks at present" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating a current deficiency or absence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for formal contexts such as news, science, and business writing. While the phrase is not incorrect, simpler alternatives might be preferable in informal settings. The analysis suggests that "lacks at present" serves to inform about a current need or absence. Consider rephrasing with alternatives such as "currently deficient in" or "is currently missing" to maintain clarity and precision, depending on context. "Lacks at present" appears to be a rather infrequent expression but acceptable and useful in particular contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is lacking at this time

Replaces "present" with "this time", keeping "lacking" to indicate the absence.

currently deficient in

Replaces "lacks" with a more descriptive term and maintains the temporal aspect with "currently".

presently deficient in

Substitutes "lacks" with "deficient" and "at present" with its synonym "presently".

currently missing

Uses a simpler term, "missing", to replace "lacks", retaining the "currently" to emphasize the present state.

is absent currently

Uses "absent" as a substitute for "lacking", with "currently" to emphasize the temporal aspect.

is currently without

Rephrases the lack as being "without" something, adding "currently" for temporal focus.

is not currently available

Specifies that something "is not currently available", replacing "lacks" with a more direct expression of unavailability.

does not currently possess

Offers a more formal alternative using "possess" instead of "lacks" and "currently" to specify the time frame.

is unavailable now

Focuses on the unavailability, replacing "lacks" with "unavailable" and using "now" for "at present".

is in short supply at present

Indicates a deficiency by stating that something is "in short supply", maintaining "at present" for temporal context.

FAQs

How can I use "lacks at present" in a sentence?

You can use "lacks at present" to indicate something that is currently missing or unavailable. For example, "The project "lacks at present" the necessary funding to proceed."

What are some alternatives to "lacks at present"?

Some alternatives to "lacks at present" include "currently missing", "is currently without", or "is lacking at this time", depending on the context.

Is "lacks at present" formal or informal?

"Lacks at present" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional or academic writing. In more casual settings, simpler alternatives are preferred.

Which is correct: "lacks at present" or "is lacking at present"?

Both "lacks at present" and "is lacking at present" are grammatically correct, but "is lacking at present" may sound more natural to some speakers. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.