major deficiencies

USAGE SUMMARY

"major deficiencies" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to any particularly glaring flaws in a person, product, or situation. For example, "The report highlighted several major deficiencies in the company's safety protocols."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have some major deficiencies in key areas.

The New York Times - Sports

An IT audit in 2010 had found no major deficiencies.

MIT Technology Review

There are two major deficiencies with the MRRT:   1.

The Economist

Major deficiencies exist in undergraduate nursing education for Palliative Care.

Nurse Education Today

Major deficiencies were found in all elements of SWM.

Waste Management

Our proposals remove major deficiencies in using higher-order methods in two-phase multicomponent flow.

Journal of Computational Physics

Internet engineers like Mr. Kaminsky want to counteract three major deficiencies in today's Internet.

The New York Times - Science

Overheating is known to be one of the major deficiencies in reaching the targeted lifespan goals.

Solar Energy

But it acknowledged there were major deficiencies in the oversight of the healthcare contract that dramatically exacerbated fraud risks.

The Guardian

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction found that 12 out of 24 randomly assessed health projects had major deficiencies.

Harvard University

Despite revisions in 2005 and 2014, the Gleason prostate cancer (PCa) grading system still has major deficiencies.

European Urology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "major deficiencies", be specific about the areas or aspects where these deficiencies exist to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "major deficiencies" for minor issues. Reserve this phrase for situations where the shortcomings have a substantial impact or consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major deficiencies" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "major" modifies the noun "deficiencies", emphasizing the significance and impact of the shortcomings. As Ludwig highlights, it is used to point out important or glaring flaws.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major deficiencies" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote significant flaws or shortcomings. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. As this analysis shows, the phrase appears most commonly in scientific and news media, with a neutral to formal tone suitable for professional and academic settings. When using "major deficiencies", it's crucial to specify the areas where these shortcomings exist to maintain clarity. Remember to avoid using this phrase for trivial issues, reserving it for situations where flaws have a substantial impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant shortcomings

Replaces "deficiencies" with "shortcomings", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

serious flaws

Substitutes both "major" and "deficiencies" with near synonyms, altering the tone slightly but preserving the core concept.

critical defects

Replaces "deficiencies" with "defects", which emphasizes a structural or functional problem.

substantial inadequacies

Uses synonyms for both "major" and "deficiencies", creating a more formal tone.

key weaknesses

Offers a less direct synonym for "deficiencies", highlighting vulnerabilities rather than outright errors.

primary faults

Emphasizes the fundamental nature of the "deficiencies", suggesting they are root causes of problems.

significant gaps

Frames the "deficiencies" as missing elements or areas lacking in completeness.

principal failings

Highlights the failures or shortcomings that are of utmost importance or are most noticeable.

considerable shortcomings

Highlights not just shortcomings, but that they are of considerable size, amount, or extent.

glaring omissions

Focuses on what has been left out or neglected, emphasizing the obviousness of the "deficiencies".

FAQs

How can I use "major deficiencies" in a sentence?

You can use "major deficiencies" to describe significant shortcomings in various contexts. For instance, "The audit revealed "major deficiencies" in the company's financial reporting."

What are some alternatives to saying "major deficiencies"?

Alternatives to "major deficiencies" include "significant shortcomings", "serious flaws", or "critical defects", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "major deficiencies" in formal writing?

Yes, "major deficiencies" is suitable for formal writing, especially in reports, analyses, and professional communications, as it clearly conveys significant problems.

What's the difference between "major deficiencies" and "minor deficiencies"?

"Major deficiencies" indicate substantial and impactful flaws, while "minor deficiencies" refer to less significant or inconsequential issues.