missing point

USAGE SUMMARY

The use of the phrase 'missing point' is generally not considered to be correct or proper in written English.
This phrase usually implies that something has been left out or overlooked in an argument or discussion. For example, "I agree with most of your points, but I think there is a missing point that needs to be addressed."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Dallas was missing point guard Steve Nash.

The New York Times - Sports

But at the Circle, that missing point nags at us.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Knicks do an effective job of harassing the Celtics' offense, which is missing point guard Rajon Rondo.

The New York Times

With nothing to do but wait and suffer, D'Antoni eschewed standard coaching doctrine, which is not to talk about injured players, and pined openly for Nash, his missing point guard.

The New York Times - Sports

The Warriors benefited from injuries to opponents last season on the way to the NBA title with Memphis point guard Mike Conley missing time in the second round and Cleveland missing point guard Kyrie Irving for the last five games and power forward Kevin Love for the entire NBA Finals.

The Guardian - Sport

They can also help you figure out what a story is missing, point out the weaknesses in your argument and so on.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

In the 80th minute, Agudelo set up Dempsey, who had been missing point-blank shots.

The New York Times - Sports

A long layoff seemed particularly problematic for the Spurs in the early going, as they were out of sorts while committing charges and missing point-blank shots.

Los Angeles Times

However, the more comfortable alternative of optical surface tracking is highly inaccurate due to missing point-to-point correspondences between subsequent point clouds as well as elastic deformation of soft tissue.

Biomedical Optics Express

Could be costly, those missed points.

The Guardian - Sport

Are they missing the point?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "missing point", ensure the context clearly indicates that something crucial has been overlooked in a discussion or analysis. Consider alternatives such as "overlooked aspect" or "neglected detail" for more formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "missing point" in formal academic papers or business reports. It is often perceived as too informal and can reduce the credibility of your argument. Instead, opt for more precise and professional terms like "overlooked factor" or "unaddressed issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing point" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI suggests this phrase implies that something has been left out or overlooked in an argument or discussion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "missing point" refers to a crucial element that has been overlooked or omitted in a discussion or analysis. Ludwig indicates that while generally understandable, its use may be viewed as not proper English in some contexts. As an alternative, terms like "overlooked aspect" or "neglected detail" can provide a more precise and formal tone. "Missing point" is most frequently found in News & Media and Science, making it a versatile, though potentially informal, term for identifying oversights in various types of discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overlooked aspect

Focuses on something being ignored, shifting from a specific "point" to a broader element.

neglected detail

Emphasizes a detail that has been ignored, changing the scope from a main idea to a smaller component.

overlooked item

Similar to overlooked aspect but uses a more neutral term.

forgotten element

Highlights the act of forgetting a component, different from a deliberate miss.

omitted factor

Indicates that a factor was deliberately left out, rather than simply missed.

ignored consideration

Highlights that a thought or idea was disregarded, rather than simply not seen.

the crux of the matter is

Indicates that a crucial element or consideration has been avoided.

the heart of the matter

Indicates a crucial element that has not been at the centre of the discussion.

key aspect

Highlights the importance and centrality of the neglected issue.

central component

Emphasizes the importance of the missing element as a fundamental part of a larger whole.

FAQs

What does "missing point" mean?

The phrase "missing point" generally refers to a key element, argument, or detail that has been overlooked or not considered in a discussion or analysis.

What can I say instead of "missing point"?

You can use alternatives like "overlooked aspect", "neglected detail", or "omitted factor" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is it better to say "missing the point" or "missing point"?

"Missing the point" is an idiom that means failing to understand the central idea or purpose. "Missing point", while understandable, is less idiomatic and may be better replaced with a phrase like "overlooked aspect" or "neglected detail" if you're referring to a specific item that was missed.

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

You might say, "I agree with your analysis, but there's a crucial "missing point": the impact on small businesses" or "The "missing point" in this debate is the long-term environmental consequences".