missing days

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing days" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to days that are unaccounted for or not recorded. For example, "I noticed some missing days in the attendance record." Alternative expressions include "absent days" and "lost days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Opponents of the move say that there is room for misuse, such as not taking the pill at the same time every day, missing days, or taking the pills out of sequence, but, a few years ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that birth-control pills were safe enough to be sold over the counter.

The New Yorker

Counts were totalled over each 24 hr period (midnight – midnight), the 1st set of 24 hour data was discarded (incomplete day) and missing days were excluded from analysis.

BMC Health Services Research

She began missing days and weeks of school after her friend committed suicide.

The Guardian

It is described as a work of fiction inspired by the missing days leading up to Cobain's death.

The Guardian - Film

But there's nothing cosy and nostalgic about missing days of meals, turning the heating off for two consecutive winters and every bloody day and night in between.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Rubin said the club's owners, Edith D'Angelo and Luis Alberto Ruiz, who declined to be interviewed, denied fining dancers for missing days or arriving late.

The New York Times

Jacqueline Bell spent 28 years working and stopped, with great regret, when she was made redundant by two successive employers for missing days because she was unwell.

The Guardian

The police yesterday identified the young woman whose body was found burned in a Brooklyn parking lot as a 19-year-old from the Bronx who had been reported missing days earlier.

The New York Times

"My mom wanted to get out of the city," Marquiana said, "but I live so far away from school now, that I started missing days and being tardy all the time".

The New York Times

Ms. Lopez said despite wages of $9.85 an hour, she has been earning too little to forego a $200 monthly welfare supplement, because while her earnings raised her share of the subsidized rent, she kept missing days of pay, mainly to care for her 13-year-old son, Nicholas, who has had repeated operations for a brain abscess.

The New York Times

By the time a friend convinced me to go to the union in early 2010, I was 25 pounds heavier, I was binge-drinking on the weekends, and I was missing days of work to stay home and lie in bed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing data collection or attendance records, clearly define what constitutes "missing days" to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether weekends or holidays are included.

Common error

Avoid using "missing days" as a euphemism for "sick days". "Missing days" refers to any absence, while "sick days" specifically implies absence due to illness. Using the terms interchangeably can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing days" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, referring to days that are absent, unaccounted for, or not recorded. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "missing days" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that effectively communicates the absence or lack of record for a period of time. It's prevalent in both scientific and news contexts, as verified by Ludwig. When using this phrase, it's crucial to be specific about what constitutes a "missing day" to avoid ambiguity, and to differentiate it from related terms like "sick days". The related phrases, such as "absent days" or "days of absence", offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absent days

Replaces "missing" with "absent", focusing on the state of being away.

lost days

Emphasizes the irretrievable nature of the days.

unaccounted for days

Highlights the lack of explanation or record for the days.

days not present

Directly states the absence of presence during those days.

days of absence

Formal way of referring to a period when someone or something is not present.

skipped days

Implies that the days were intentionally or unintentionally omitted.

days not attended

Focuses on the lack of attendance or participation.

days off

Refers to days when someone is not working or attending school.

gaps in the schedule

Highlights the breaks or holes in a planned sequence of days.

omitted days

Focuses on the act of leaving out days from a sequence or record.

FAQs

How can I use "missing days" in a sentence?

"Missing days" can be used to describe absences from work or school, gaps in data, or unaccounted time periods. For example: "The study excluded participants with more than 10 "missing days" of data".

What's a more formal way to say "missing days"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "days of absence" or "unaccounted for days". These options provide a more professional tone while still conveying the same meaning.

What can I say instead of "missing days" in the context of school attendance?

If referring to school attendance, consider using "absent days" or "days not attended". For instance: "The student had several "absent days" due to illness".

Is it correct to use "missing days" to describe incomplete data?

Yes, "missing days" is appropriate when referring to gaps or incomplete entries in a dataset. For example: "We interpolated the values for the "missing days" to create a complete time series".