lamentably short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lamentably short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is regrettably or disappointingly brief in length or duration. Example: "The report was lamentably short, lacking the depth of analysis we expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

He had politely declined a smoke after contemplating the club's menu, still lamentably short on Cubans.

The New Yorker

Even if he was lamentably short on convincing answers some of that was mentioned in Cameron's speech.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Bank of England's monitoring of Project Merlin fell lamentably short of providing any meaningful clarity or analysis.

The Guardian - Business

* AMERICAN BALLET THEATER (Through Sunday) The company's lamentably short three-week City Center season ends Sunday afternoon.

The New York Times

His generation of American actors is lamentably short on top-flight leading men who can open a movie on a Friday night but also deliver a superb performance.

Independent

Many traditions - not just the European Enlightenment - have a history of struggle against fanaticism and intolerance, and they (especially Europe) have fallen lamentably short of those ideals.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Wolfgang's autobiography, "Acts," displays lamentably little reflection on the horrors of the Nazi period.

The New Yorker

10 mins: Cameroon are showing plenty of urgency, but lamentably little precision.

The Guardian

Until now, online estate and letting agents have had lamentably little impact.

The Guardian - Money

It is the first real attempt to update our lamentably inadequate toxics laws in more than 30 years.

Huffington Post

Generally, essential supporting services and supplies were lamentably inadequate.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience when using "lamentably short". It's appropriate for formal writing, reports, or when expressing a serious or disappointed sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "lamentably short" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "too short" or "not long enough" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lamentably short" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "lamentably" modifies the adjective "short". It serves to emphasize the disappointing or regrettable nature of something being brief, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lamentably short" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey disappointment over something being briefer than desired. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it is predominantly found in neutral contexts such as news and media. When writing, it's best to reserve "lamentably short" for more formal settings, as using it in casual conversation may sound pretentious. Alternatives like "regrettably brief" or "disappointingly brief" can be used depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettably brief

Replaces "lamentably" with "regrettably", focusing on the feeling of regret about the brevity.

disappointingly brief

Uses "disappointingly" instead of "lamentably", highlighting the disappointment caused by the shortness.

lamentably concise

Substitutes "short" with "concise", keeping "lamentably" to express regret over the brevity

sadly lacking in length

Rephrases the idea with a focus on the lack of length and the sadness associated with it.

unfortunately limited

Shifts the emphasis to the unfortunate nature of the limitation in length or duration.

deplorably concise

Emphasizes the conciseness in a negative way, implying it's too short.

woefully inadequate

Highlights the inadequacy of the length or duration, expressing a strong sense of disappointment.

regrettably curtailed

Focuses on the act of shortening something, with regret.

alas, too brief

Introduces a sense of sorrow and acceptance of the brevity.

painfully insufficient

Emphasizes the suffering caused by the lack of length or duration.

FAQs

How can I use "lamentably short" in a sentence?

You can use "lamentably short" to describe something that is disappointingly brief. For instance, "The presentation was "lamentably short", failing to cover all the key points."

What are some alternatives to "lamentably short"?

Alternatives include "regrettably brief", "disappointingly brief", or "unfortunately limited". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "lamentably short" grammatically correct?

Yes, "lamentably short" is grammatically correct. "Lamentably" is an adverb modifying the adjective "short", indicating the degree to which something is short.

What's the difference between "lamentably short" and "regrettably short"?

While both express disappointment about brevity, "lamentably short" carries a slightly stronger connotation of sorrow or grief compared to "regrettably short". The choice depends on the specific emotion you wish to convey.