paucity of funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paucity of funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a lack or shortage of financial resources. Example: "The organization had to scale back its projects due to a significant paucity of funds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Despite his paucity of funds, he employed expensive materials, notably lapus lazuli, and worked laboriously.

The New York Times - Arts

Professor Singh was also known to be unhappy with the paucity of funds being allocated to the school by its parent institution, Nanyang Technical University.

The Economist

"I don't think Afghanistan will notice it". Eikenberry also has expressed frustration with the relative paucity of funds set aside for spending on development and reconstruction this year in Afghanistan, a country wrecked by three decades of war.

The Washington Post

Susan Gottesfeld, associate executive director of the Osborne Association—another reentry and prison reform program told me that one of the barriers faced by reentry programs, including her own agency, is a paucity of funds for host programs to serve those leaving incarceration with or without bail troubles.

Vice

Although, attempt to validate the models has not been done due to paucity of funds.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Although national program for control of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes has been initiated as a pilot it has not been scaled due to paucity of funds [ 41].

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The hiring freeze that the United Nations had to impose in July due to the paucity of funding slows down the investigative and trial work as vacancies in key positions mount.

The New York Times

If the Treasury chooses to claw back the additional revenues that local authorities earn from charges by reducing the overall sums going to transport, nothing worthwhile will have been gained.The impression that Mr Prescott may have been given an impossible task is reinforced by the paucity of funding devoted to the new Strategic Rail Authority.

The Economist

The paucity of funding can lead to larger caseloads for defenders, less money to hire investigators and experts, and the general slowing of an already overburdened criminal justice system.

Vice

The easy availability of oxygen lies beneath a lack of commercial interest in it and the paucity of funding of large-scale clinical studies on oxygen as a drug.

Critical Care

11 13 IEM are considered orphan diseases, a situation that causes difficulties in conducting RCTs because of the small number of patients found and the paucity of funding from pharmaceutical companies relative to common diseases.

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "paucity of funds", ensure that the context clearly indicates what activities or projects are being affected by the lack of funding. This provides a clearer understanding of the consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "paucity of funds" in very informal or colloquial settings. While grammatically correct, it may sound overly formal or pretentious in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "lack of money" or "short on cash" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paucity of funds" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes the state of having insufficient financial resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is indeed usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paucity of funds" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that denotes a scarcity or lack of financial resources. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for formal contexts, commonly found in news, scientific, and business publications. While phrases like "lack of funding" or "shortage of funds" offer simpler alternatives, "paucity of funds" adds a touch of formality and precision to descriptions of financial constraints. When using it, ensure the context is clear and the intended audience appreciates the nuanced vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of funding

This alternative is more common and slightly less formal.

shortage of funds

This phrase is a direct synonym, focusing on the inadequacy of available money.

limited financial resources

This is a more descriptive and formal alternative.

financial constraints

This alternative emphasizes the restrictive nature of the limited funds.

scarcity of financial resources

This option highlights the rarity and limited availability of funds.

insufficiency of funds

This alternative emphasizes the inadequacy to meet the required needs.

budgetary limitations

This phrase focuses on the restrictions imposed by the budget.

financial deficit

This term indicates that the financial resources are in negative.

economic hardship

This refers to a difficult financial situation, often on a larger scale.

cash-flow problems

This term focuses specifically on the difficulties in managing the timing of money coming in and going out.

FAQs

What does "paucity of funds" mean?

The phrase "paucity of funds" refers to a scarcity or lack of available financial resources. It suggests that there is an insufficient amount of money to meet needs or accomplish certain objectives.

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

You can use alternatives like "lack of funding", "shortage of funds", or "limited financial resources" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "paucity of funds" formal or informal?

"Paucity of funds" is considered a more formal expression. In informal contexts, phrases like "lack of money" or "short on cash" may be more appropriate.

How does "paucity of funds" differ from "lack of funds"?

While both phrases indicate a shortage of money, "paucity of funds" is generally perceived as more formal and less frequently used than "lack of funds". The choice between them depends on the desired tone and audience.