obtain absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obtain absent" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express the idea of acquiring something that is missing or not present, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "We need to find a way to obtain absent information for the report."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

See, for example, Kenny 1963, p. 55; Perry 1967, especially pp. 214-17; and contrast Gosling 1969 on "being pleased" with Taylor 1963, pp. 8-9 on uses of "being pleased with... ...... signifying dispositional contentment that may obtain absent any occurrent positive affect.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Asterisks indicate expression levels of parent strain obtained absent ethanol stress as a reference.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

On the basis of the frequency of each respiratory and digestive sign, a global classification of four grades was obtained: absent (grade 0), mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2) and severe (grade 3).

BMC Veterinary Research

A third of the uninsured didn't know they are subject to a fine if they don't obtain coverage, absent a few permitted exclusions such as financial hardship.

Huffington Post

On the one hand, in order for God to be the sole source of meaning, God must be utterly unlike us; for the more God were like us, the more reason there would be to think we could obtain meaning from ourselves, absent God.

SEP

Consequently a higher error rate is obtained in the absent spots (TG or TR, according to the test sample), producing more false present calls.

BMC Genomics

We demonstrate that first-principles, density functional calculations provide a means to obtain thermodynamic functions of phases absent from current databases.

Acta Materialia

Other than Britain, almost all the other European and Asian allies have said they oppose a confrontation absent evidence that Iraq will imminently obtain a nuclear weapon.

The New York Times

"Absent literacy, a child has no way to obtain knowledge, communicate with the world, or participate in the institutions and activities of citizenship," said Mark Rosenbaum, director of the opportunity under law project of Public Counsel, which is filing the lawsuit.

The Guardian

However, we did not obtain a significant list of genes present in the former but absent in the latter.

Plosone

If information was absent from the original paper, attempts were undertaken to obtain complete information from the authors.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "obtain absent" in formal writing. Instead, use clearer alternatives like "acquire in the absence of" or "obtain despite the absence of" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "obtain absent" as a concise way to indicate acquiring something when something else is missing. However, this phrasing is not grammatically correct. Always clarify the relationship by using prepositions such as "in the absence of" or "despite the absence of" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtain absent" functions as a verb-adjective construction attempting to convey the idea of acquiring something under conditions where something else is missing. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is not grammatically correct and requires restructuring for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obtain absent" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for formal use. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's best to use clearer alternatives such as "acquire in the absence of" or "obtain despite the absence of". While the phrase appears in some scientific and news contexts, its infrequency and lack of grammatical correctness suggest that careful rewording is necessary to ensure clarity and precision in writing. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy for better communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire in absence

Replaces "obtain" with "acquire" and rephrases "absent" to emphasize the condition of something not being present during acquisition.

secure in absence

Substitutes "obtain" with "secure", highlighting the act of firmly gaining something despite its current absence.

gain when absent

Changes the structure to emphasize gaining something during a period or condition of absence.

procure despite absence

Uses "procure" to mean obtaining with effort, and "despite absence" to acknowledge the lack of something during the process.

attain in the absence of

Replaces "obtain" with "attain", which suggests a more formal tone, and uses the phrase "in the absence of" to clarify the condition.

derive without

Emphasizes that something is derived from a source even when something else is not present, using "without" to indicate absence.

gather without

Emphasizes that something is gathered or collected even when something else is not present, using "without" to indicate absence.

find in absence

Replaces "obtain" with "find", which suggests discovering something in the condition or time of absence.

achieve lacking

Replaces "obtain" with "achieve", which suggests accomplishing something despite the lack of something, using "lacking" to indicate absence.

access without

Replaces "obtain" with "access", which suggests accessing something even when something else is not present, using "without" to indicate absence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "obtain absent" to make it grammatically correct?

To correct "obtain absent", you can use phrases like "obtain in the absence of", "acquire without", or "secure despite the absence of". The specific choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What does "obtain absent" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "obtain absent" attempts to express acquiring something when something else is not present or available. However, it's better to use clearer and more precise language to avoid confusion.

Is it ever appropriate to use "obtain absent" in writing?

Given that it's not grammatically correct, avoid using "obtain absent" in formal or professional writing. In informal contexts, if the meaning is clear, it might be understood, but it's generally best to use clearer alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "obtain absent" that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives to "obtain absent" include phrases like "acquire in absence", "secure in absence", or "attain in the absence of". These options provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.