paucity of choice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paucity of choice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are very few options available. Example: "The restaurant's menu had a paucity of choice, making it difficult for diners to find something appealing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But there's a silver lining to the paucity of choice.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That paucity of choices drove shares higher than in places with more options.What, then, has changed?

The Economist

The story of Jack Hartley, the 58-year-old tire factory worker, illustrates the paucity of choices that bedevils not only America's aging work force, but also the current debate about Social Security.

The New York Times

The problem, according to RXR, was a paucity of lunchtime choices in the neighborhood, an industrial-looking stretch west of the High Line, between 11th and 12th Avenues.

The New York Times

Neither does she ignore the class barrier to healthy eating, profiling the formidable Will Allen, an urban farmer in Milwaukee who is aggressively combating the paucity of food choices in poor neighborhoods.

The New York Times

"This is the first indoor vertical food-truck court in the city, and as far as I know, the country," said David Weber, president of the New York City Food Truck Association, which was asked by the building's owner, RXR Realty, to curate the daily "truck collection" because of a paucity of lunchtime choices in the neighborhood, west of the High Line between 11th and 12th Avenues.

The New York Times

While primary human CECs would ideally be the model of choice, the paucity of available fresh human cerebral tissue makes wide-scale studies impractical.

Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

Alcohol was the  ​Soviet drug of choice because of a paucity of options.

Vice

Despite their potential for altered efficacy, metabolism, ADE, and drug interactions in older patients, there is a paucity of data to inform the choice of antiretroviral agents in this population [ 17, 22, 51, 52].

Drugs and Aging

The remaining Difference Regions with p values larger than the critical value may represent alternative splicing choices in which there is indeed a strong preference for one choice, but a paucity of available ESTs does not support ruling out the null hypothesis.

BMC Plant Biology

It is interesting, given the paucity of research evidence to guide treatment choice, that the types of physiotherapy treatments routinely employed by the therapists in this survey are fairly similar.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "paucity of choice", consider the context to determine if a more common synonym like "lack of options" would be more appropriate for your audience. While "paucity" is a valid word, it may sound overly formal in some situations.

Common error

Avoid using "paucity of choice" in informal or casual writing. Its formal tone can sound stilted or pretentious in contexts where simpler language would be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paucity of choice" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation characterized by a lack of available options or alternatives. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "paucity of choice" effectively conveys a lack of options, as validated by Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness. While grammatically sound and frequently encountered in diverse sources like news outlets and scientific publications, its slightly formal tone suggests more judicious employment in formal writing and professional environments. For less formal communication, alternatives such as "lack of options" or "limited selection" may be more fitting. Although "paucity of choice" is the correct phrase and commonly used, you might consider if a more common synonym would be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of options

Replaces "paucity" with a more common synonym "lack" and simplifies the structure.

scarcity of options

Substitutes "paucity" with "scarcity", emphasizing a limited supply.

limited selection

Focuses on the selection itself being restricted.

restricted alternatives

Highlights that the available alternatives are limited.

narrow range of choices

Emphasizes the limited scope of available choices.

limited array of options

Uses "array" to suggest a structured presentation of limited options.

dearth of alternatives

Replaces "paucity" with "dearth", a less common but stronger synonym, indicating a severe lack.

meager selection

Highlights that the selection is small and inadequate.

shortage of possibilities

Focuses on the lack of potential opportunities or possibilities.

insufficient variety

Indicates that the available choices do not offer enough diversity.

FAQs

What does "paucity of choice" mean?

The phrase "paucity of choice" means a scarcity or lack of options. It indicates that there are very few choices available.

What can I say instead of "paucity of choice"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of options", "scarcity of options", or "limited selection" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "paucity of choice" in formal writing?

Yes, "paucity of choice" is suitable for formal writing. However, be mindful of your audience and consider whether a simpler phrase would be more effective.

How do I use "paucity of choice" in a sentence?

You can use "paucity of choice" to describe situations where there are few options available. For example: "The "paucity of choice" in the restaurant menu made it difficult to decide what to order."