missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is absent or not present, often in contexts where something is expected or required. Example: "The report is incomplete because several key sections are missing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But something is missing.

The Economist

Am I missing something?

The New York Times

Something missing?

The New York Times

The pupil premium is great, but not much help if you are being evicted because of the bedroom tax, or living in a substandard or unsafe home, or missing out on a good breakfast.

The Guardian - Opinion

Back home, his wife, Mary, given the news that Tom was missing, presumed wounded, refused to accept the inevitable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But Smith's failure to make a major impact in Europe - the finest moment probably being the home-and-away defeat of Leeds United in 1992, later missing out on a Champions League final place by one point - led to the clamour for something new.

The Guardian - Sport

Swedish politician Kristina Axén Olin said then: "As a Stockholmer, this is what you have been missing".

The Guardian - Music

Among the puzzles vexing investigators are how a man who had lost almost seven pints of blood could have made his way 70-odd miles across country - and what happened to him in the at least three days that he was missing.

The Guardian

Constantly checking my phone not only makes me bad company (sorry friends), but it makes me worry that there's something I'm missing or something I've failed to cover in one of my stories.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But there is one thing missing: "I would like to get to the point where we have a tour bus.

The Guardian - Music

Each has his merits, and could earn a place in the squad, but with limited spots available there is a good chance of them all missing out.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "missing" to refer to information, parts, or elements that are required but not included.

Common error

Avoid using "missing" when "lacking" is more appropriate. "Missing" usually implies something was present before but is not now, while "lacking" simply means something is absent. For example, say "The recipe is lacking salt" instead of "The recipe is missing salt" if salt was never an ingredient.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "missing" is as an adjective, describing a noun that is absent or not present. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples where "missing" modifies nouns like "girls", "money", or "details". It can also function as a verb in its present participle form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "missing" functions primarily as an adjective to denote the absence of something, and Ludwig AI reinforces its grammatical correctness and common usage in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, "missing" often conveys a sense of lack or absence, whether it's a physical object or an intangible element. While alternatives like "absent" or "lacking" exist, "missing" carries a specific connotation of something that was once present but is now gone, or needed, but not present. Using "missing" correctly involves understanding this nuance to ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absent

Indicates a state of being away or not present, similar to "missing" but often used for people or scheduled events.

lacking

Emphasizes the deficiency or inadequacy of something, closely related to "missing" in contexts where something is required.

gone

Suggests something has disappeared or is no longer available, comparable to "missing" but with a sense of finality.

lost

Implies something is irretrievable or cannot be found, akin to "missing" when referring to misplaced items.

unavailable

Describes something not accessible or obtainable, much like "missing" when availability is concerned.

wanting

Highlights a deficiency or absence, echoing "missing" when indicating something is needed but not present.

omitted

Specifies that something has been left out or excluded, similar to "missing" in a deliberate context.

removed

Indicates something taken away or no longer included, related to "missing" in a context of deletion.

nowhere to be found

Emphasizes the inability to locate something, comparable to "missing" when searching for something.

not present

A straightforward way to state that something is not there, sharing the basic meaning of "missing".

FAQs

How do I use "missing" in a sentence?

"Missing" can be used to describe something that is absent or has disappeared. For example, "The key is missing from the drawer" or "Several pages are missing from the report".

What can I say instead of "missing"?

You can use alternatives like "absent", "lacking", or "gone" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "something is missing"?

Yes, "something is missing" is a grammatically correct and common way to express that something is absent or not present.

What's the difference between "missing" and "lacking"?

"Missing" often implies something was present before but is now gone, while "lacking" simply indicates the absence of something. For example, "The book is missing a chapter" (it was there before) versus "The plan is lacking detail" (it never had the detail).