must be missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be missing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is absent or not present when it is expected to be there. Example: "The report seems incomplete; some crucial data must be missing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

I must be missing something, right?

The New York Times

I thought I must be missing something".

The New York Times

I began to think that I must be missing something.

The New York Times

But something must be missing from this explanation.

The New York Times - Books

He concludes that economists must be missing some important point.

The Economist

But this was no problem, according to his theory: the book must be missing pages.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The Premier League has made itself unmissable, but then insisted there are times that it must be missed – by refusing to allow all matches to be televised to ensure that fans keep flocking to stadiums across the country.

The Guardian

Moreover, the RNA-seq studies focused on RNA from only one tissue (flower buds) and any sex-linked genes not expressed in flower buds, or expressed at low levels, must be missed [ 6– 8].

BMC Genomics

"America must not be missing in action at the World Conference come September," Mr. Price said.

The New York Times

Which is why a piece of the DeSean Jackson saga must still be missing.

Huffington Post

"You must really be missing your country right now" laughs Andrew the lab technician as he sips tea from a disposable cup.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be missing", ensure the context clearly indicates what is expected but absent. For instance, "If the document is incomplete, some pages "must be missing".

Common error

Avoid using "must be missing" when there's no clear expectation of what should be present. Instead of "The data must be missing", specify from where or what: "The data from last year "must be missing" from the database".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be missing" functions as a modal verb phrase to express a strong inference or deduction about the absence of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its usage in various contexts, such as indicating missing data or components.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "must be missing" is a commonly used and grammatically sound modal verb phrase that expresses a strong inference about something being absent. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable. While appropriate for general use, consider more formal alternatives like "is likely absent" for academic or professional contexts. Ensure clarity by specifying what is expected but absent. This analysis is supported by numerous examples from reputable sources, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is likely absent

Emphasizes probability rather than certainty of absence.

is probably lacking

Highlights a deficiency or shortage.

is possibly omitted

Focuses on the act of leaving something out.

could be absent

Suggests a possibility of absence.

might be deficient

Implies a shortfall in quantity or quality.

may be unavailable

Indicates something is not accessible or present.

is conceivably gone

Highlights the potential disappearance of something.

must have been left out

Emphasizes unintentional omission.

it would seem to lack

Adds a level of uncertainty and subjectivity.

evidently, it is not there

States obvious absence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "must be missing" to sound more formal?

To achieve a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "is likely absent", "is probably lacking", or "it would seem to lack". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

Is "must be missing" appropriate for academic writing?

While "must be missing" is grammatically correct, it may sound less formal. In academic writing, more precise alternatives like "is likely absent" or "is conceivably gone" may be preferable to convey a higher level of certainty or scholarly tone.

What does it mean when something "must be missing"?

When something "must be missing", it implies that something expected or required is not present. For example, "If the recipe isn't working, an ingredient "must be missing"" suggests a necessary component is absent.

How to use "must be missing" in a sentence?

You can use it to express that something is absent and expected to be there, like: "If the calculations are incorrect, a step "must be missing"". Alternatively, to suggest a possibility, try: "Some context "must be missing" to fully understand the situation".