make up for deficiency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make up for deficiency" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea of compensating for a lack of something. For example, "She used her hard work and dedication to make up for deficiency in her experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It should be noted that commonly used multivitamin supplements often do not contain sufficient calcium to make up for deficiency in the diet [ 35].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We must move from a system that tries to make up for deficiencies to one that really teaches.

The Guardian

We must move from a system that tries to make up for deficiencies to one that really teaches," he said.

Independent

Here is the real secret: passion is critical, but it can't make up for deficiencies in the other categories.

The New York Times

Higher capital charges should not be used to make up for deficiencies in the quality of supervision.

The Economist

When Elliott occasionally tips too far in one direction (the neo-Nazi sections are tiresome and silly, a "Springtime for Hitler" parody), my guess is that he's just trying to make up for deficiencies in the writing.

The New Yorker

The water transfer suggestions proposed in this paper are based on hydraulic characteristics of the lake and make up for deficiencies that previous did not consider the effects of flow transfers on the flow field of receiving.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Yet a secondary meaning of the word "supplement" seemed to Derrida to be playing around all Rousseau's uses of it: as the supplement to a dictionary supplies its missing terms, so writing, culture, harmony and masturbation all make up for deficiencies in what was supposed to be the perfect and complete entity to which they are in an ancillary relation.

The Guardian

Integration is understood to be a burdensome process that needs efforts to make up for deficiencies of immigrants.

Comparative Migration Studies

A large part of the problem is that we're expecting colleges to make up for deficiencies in our kindergarten-through-12th-grade system.

Forbes

This means that, despite the views of some commentators [ 33], trust and cooperation will not be able to make up for deficiencies in the contract in respect of specification and monitoring.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make up for deficiency", ensure the context clearly states both the deficiency and the means of compensation. For example, instead of just saying “He tried to make up for the deficiency”, specify “He tried to "make up for deficiency" in experience with hard work and dedication”.

Common error

Avoid implying that something completely eliminates a deficiency when it only partially addresses it. For instance, saying “The bonus completely "made up for deficiency" in salary” might be an overstatement if the bonus only covers a small portion of the salary gap.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make up for deficiency" functions as a phrasal verb followed by a noun, indicating an action taken to compensate for a lack or inadequacy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to express the idea of balancing or counteracting something that is missing or insufficient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make up for deficiency" is a versatile phrasal verb construction used to express the concept of compensating for a lack or inadequacy. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "compensate for shortcoming" or "offset the deficit" exist, "make up for deficiency" explicitly acknowledges the deficit being addressed. A best practice is to ensure that the context clearly specifies both the deficiency and the compensating factor. Avoid overstating the degree to which something fully eliminates the deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Compensate for shortcoming

Emphasizes addressing a specific weakness or fault.

Offset the deficit

Focuses on balancing a quantitative lack or imbalance.

Counterbalance the inadequacy

Highlights creating an opposing force to neutralize the deficiency.

Rectify the insufficiency

Suggests correcting or remedying a state of being not enough.

Amends for the want

Implies making reparations for something missing or desired.

Nullify the imperfection

Focuses on negating the effects of a flaw or blemish.

Mitigate the absence

Suggests lessening the impact of something that is not present.

Make good the shortage

Emphasizes replenishing or fulfilling a deficient quantity.

Supplements the need

Highlights adding something extra to fulfill a requirement.

Redeem the failing

Implies rescuing or improving a substandard quality.

FAQs

How can I use "make up for deficiency" in a sentence?

Use "make up for deficiency" to indicate that something is compensating for a lack or inadequacy. For example, "Her enthusiasm helped to "make up for deficiency" of experience".

What are some alternatives to "make up for deficiency"?

You can use alternatives like "compensate for shortcoming", "offset the deficit", or "counterbalance the inadequacy" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "compensate for" or "make up for deficiency"?

Both are correct, but "compensate for" is often more concise. "Make up for deficiency" explicitly acknowledges the existence of a lack, while "compensate for" can be used more generally.

Which is correct: "make up for a deficiency" or "make up a deficiency"?

"Make up for a deficiency" is the correct phrasing. "Make up a deficiency" doesn't convey the intended meaning of compensation. It suggests creating or inventing a deficiency, which is not the standard usage.