missing on board

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing on board" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that something or someone is absent from a group or vehicle, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report indicated that several items were missing on board the ship."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Importantly, each will have to show that its blowout preventer — the device that so catastrophically failed on BP's Deepwater Horizon rig — is in good working order and equipped with backup systems missing on board BP's rig.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

My original urge was sparked from practical purposes - I thought that my professional skills as a nationally respected communicator and children's advocate are ones that have been sorely missing on our Board in the past and are critical to our future.

Huffington Post

Outside, families have hung photographs of the missing on bulletin boards.

Los Angeles Times

Citron, also Vonage's chief strategist, said in a statement that, "Hugh will be missed on the board, we wish him well and we thank him for his contributions".

Forbes

The plane, which was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, went missing on Saturday, with 239 on board.

BBC

A US Marine Corps helicopter carrying out earthquake relief in Nepal was reported missing on Tuesday with eight personnel on board, officials have said.

Independent

The China-bound plane went missing on Saturday with 239 people on board.

BBC

Flight MH370 went missing on 8 March with 239 people on board.

BBC

The plane went missing on 8 March with 239 people on board.

BBC

The plane went missing on 8 March 2014, taking all 239 people on board with it.

Independent

There will always be something to take on board so never miss out on the opportunities onboard.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer alternatives like "absent on board" or "not present on board" to improve readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "missing on board" can be vague. Ensure your writing is precise by specifying what is missing and providing context. Instead of saying "Items were missing on board", specify "Several life vests were missing on board", to give the reader complete and accurate information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing on board" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate absence or loss in a specific location. While grammatically functional, it's not considered standard English, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "missing on board" might be understandable, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It aims to convey absence from a vessel, but clearer alternatives like "absent on board" or "not present on board" are preferable. It appears most frequently in news and media, but is rare overall, making precise and grammatically sound alternatives a better choice for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absent on board

Replaces "missing" with "absent" for a more formal and grammatically conventional expression.

not present on board

Uses a negative construction to clearly state the absence of someone or something.

unaccounted for on board

Emphasizes that the whereabouts of someone or something are unknown, specifically on a vessel.

lost on board

Suggests that something or someone was present but is now no longer locatable on the vessel.

gone from the manifest

Indicates that someone or something that should be present according to official records is not.

not accounted for in the vessel

Clear expression which mean something or someone it is not registered as being present.

not recorded within the ship

It is more explicit that something should be present but it is not, for instance something valuable.

not listed among the passengers

It is more precise which passengers are not recorded in official register.

vanished on board

It means something or someone disappeared suddenly.

nowhere to be found inside the vessel

Emphasizes the failure of finding someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "missing on board" in a sentence?

While "missing on board" isn't ideal, you might use it in informal contexts. However, clearer alternatives like "absent on board" or "not present on board" are generally preferred.

What are some alternatives to "missing on board"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unaccounted for on board", "lost on board", or "not listed among the passengers".

Which is more correct, "missing on board" or "absent on board"?

"Absent on board" is grammatically more correct and formal than "missing on board". The former clearly indicates a state of absence, while the latter can sound awkward.

Is "missing on board" commonly used in formal writing?

No, "missing on board" is not typically used in formal writing. It is advisable to use alternatives like "not present on board" or "unaccounted for on board" in professional or academic contexts.