large shortage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "large shortage" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a significant lack of something, such as resources or supplies. For example: "There is a large shortage of affordable housing in the city." Alternative expressions include "significant shortage" and "major shortage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Such a situation would cause a large shortage of coffee and orange juice in any other city.

The Guardian - Sport

Bill Hillmann is Thereuthor of Mozos: A Decade Runnisg with the Bulls of Spain.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not only are the Saudis the world's largest oil suppliers, but they are the only ones with enough spare capacity to make up for large shortages from producers like Iraq or strike-plagued Venezuela.

The New York Times

Three weeks later, they are still waiting for an answer.In short, if Russians are cold and hungry, it is less because of large shortages of food or fuel than because of bad government.

The Economist

The author concluded that, in 2020, China expected to have large shortages of corn, while being close to self-sufficiency in other grain commodities.

Journal of Economic Structures

Healthcare in Africa is defined by its human resource (HR) challenge, with large shortages of nurses and more so of doctors, particularly in rural and remote areas [ 2, 4, 5].

Human Resources for Health

There is an increased demand for a similar approach to be used in mental health service provision including prevention programmes [ 5], particularly in LMICs where there are large shortages of mental health professionals relative to the burden of Mental, Neurological and Substance use (MNS) disorders [ 6].

BMC Health Services Research

Concerning the shortage of doctors, internal medicine showed the largest shortage in both surveys.

BMC Medical Education

But, he added, "I believe that if the flu continues to accelerate as we move east, demand for the vaccine will continue, and I am concerned that by the end of the month there will be much larger shortages".

The New York Times

Its first version, issued in 2007, contributed to design some changes, particularly of the numerus clausus to medical schools and the number of training positions of medical specialists, by prioritizing those specialties with larger shortages.

Human Resources for Health

Most had been reservists, rather than professional soldiers, before the outbreak of war and their detention created a large labour shortage in civilian occupations.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, consider using "substantial shortage" for a more precise and formal tone.

Common error

Avoid using 'high shortage'. While shortages can reach 'high levels', the shortage itself is typically described as 'large', 'significant', or 'severe' rather than 'high'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "large shortage" acts as a noun phrase where 'large' is a quantitative adjective modifying the noun 'shortage'. According to Ludwig, it serves to provide a specific scale to an existing lack. It is often used as the object of a verb (e.g., 'facing a "large shortage"') or as part of a prepositional phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "large shortage" is a perfectly correct and professional way to describe a significant lack of something. While Ludwig AI shows that exact matches for this specific word pair are relatively rare compared to variants like "large shortages", it remains a high-quality choice for news and scientific reporting. It effectively communicates scale without the emotional weight of "severe shortage", making it ideal for objective analysis of resources, labor markets, and commodities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant shortage

Emphasizes the importance or the impact of the lack

major shortage

Commonly used in news to describe large-scale issues

substantial shortage

Provides a more formal and academic tone

severe shortage

Adds a sense of urgency or danger to the lack

acute shortage

Often used in medical or technical contexts for extreme cases

large-scale shortage

Focuses on the breadth or geographical scope of the problem

considerable shortage

A measured, professional way to describe a large gap

serious shortage

Focuses on the negative consequences of the scarcity

massive shortage

More hyperbolic and frequently used in casual news headlines

widespread shortage

Specifically implies the shortage is happening in many places

FAQs

How do I use "large shortage" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a significant lack of resources, for example: 'The city is currently facing a "large shortage" of affordable housing' or 'Supply chain issues caused a "large shortage" of computer chips'.

What is a more formal way to say "large shortage"?

In formal or business contexts, you might prefer "substantial shortage" or "significant shortage".

Can I use "big shortage" instead of "large shortage"?

While "big shortage" is understandable, it is less common in professional writing. "large shortage" is the standard professional choice.

Is "large shortage" correct in scientific writing?

Yes, it is common in scientific literature, though researchers often use more specific terms like "acute shortage" or "deficit".