missing were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing were" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to indicate that something was absent or lacking, but it requires additional context to be usable. Example: "The documents were incomplete, and several important details were missing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still missing were 38 men.

The New York Times

What was missing were the lasagna noodles.

The New York Times - Food

All that was missing were the husbands.

The New York Times

Many of the missing were children and teenagers.

The Guardian - Tech

All that was missing were beefy security bouncers.

The New York Times - Magazine

The second possibility is that the missing were murdered.

The Guardian

Among the missing were 300 firefighters and 60 police officers.

The New York Times

The only thing missing were the howls of the damned.

Independent

The only things missing were huge biceps and Kaepernick's tattoos.

The New York Times

Last year what we were missing were some strong defenders.

The New York Times

The only things missing were robes and gavels.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "missing were" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "were missing" or "were absent" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

The phrase "missing were" inverts the standard subject-verb order, leading to grammatical errors. Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject by using "were missing" or rephrasing the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing were" functions as an inverted predicate adjective construction, where "missing" describes the subject that follows the verb "were". Despite its frequent appearance, particularly highlighted by Ludwig, this structure deviates from standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "missing were" appears frequently, especially in news and media, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI points to this issue. The phrase is used to indicate absence, but it inverts standard subject-verb order. For clarity and correctness, especially in formal writing, it's best to use alternatives like "were missing", "were absent", or "were unaccounted for". Usage analysis shows that it is very common in the sources analyzed. While the phrase's prevalence might suggest acceptance, adhering to correct grammar enhances communication and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were absent

Replaces "missing" with "absent" for grammatical correctness.

were lacking

Uses "lacking" instead of "missing" to convey a similar meaning grammatically.

had gone missing

Employs a more standard phrasing to indicate disappearance.

were unaccounted for

Indicates that individuals or items could not be located or explained.

remained missing

Highlights the continued state of being missing.

were nowhere to be found

Emphasizes the inability to locate something or someone.

were not present

A more formal way of saying something was not there.

were not included

Specifies that something was deliberately left out.

were not in attendance

Refers to people who were expected but did not show up.

were excluded

Clearly indicates that something was left out from a group.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say that some items are not present?

Instead of "missing were", you should say "were missing", "were absent", or "were lacking" depending on the context.

Is "missing were" grammatically correct?

No, "missing were" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is usually "were missing", which follows standard subject-verb order.

What can I say instead of "missing were" in a news report?

In news reports, use phrases like "were unaccounted for", "remained missing", or "had gone missing" for better clarity and correctness.

How does the context affect the choice of words to replace "missing were"?

The context determines the best alternative. If you mean something was not included, use "were not included". If you mean someone didn't attend, use "were not in attendance". For general absence, "were absent" is appropriate.