paucity of talent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paucity of talent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lack or scarcity of skill or ability in a particular context, such as a team, organization, or industry. Example: "The project's failure was largely due to the paucity of talent among the team members, who struggled to meet the demands of the task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

As our list has clearly shown over the years, this is not due to a paucity of talent.

The Guardian

Considering the paucity of talent in their ranks and bad luck with injuries, it could be argued that Hull are actually over-achieving this season despite their lowly league status.

The Guardian - Sport

The only disappointment for Fast Track, the meeting organiser, is that, such is the paucity of talent in Britain, there will be few world-class home athletes for the 18,000 sell-out crowd to cheer.

The Guardian - Sport

But through habituation, or paucity of talent, or lack of originality, most of us, writing, reach for the most workaday speech-tools, and in this way the world is made dull.

The New Yorker

Yesterday, however, was a reminder of why the club is fighting relegation, given the paucity of talent beyond the first team.Seven of the Sunderland side that squeezed past Kidderminster were bought in a calamitous summer.

Independent

Speaking on the eve of two England World Cup qualifiers and amid renewed fears over the paucity of talent available to the national coach Roy Hodgson, Dyke cited statistics that showed the number of English players in the starting lineups of top-flight clubs had slumped from 69%to32%2% in the past 20 years.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Jane Martinson (Diversity woes not just black and white, 25 January) mentioned in passing the paucity of disabled talent in the media.

The Guardian

It's a sad indictment that in 2016, there's such a paucity of inclusive talent management across the public sector.

The Guardian

Giving a breakout star like Robinson $14 million guaranteed was probably wise given that a paucity of receiving talent completely neutered the Jaguar offense last season.

The New York Times

The latest figures follow a 7percentt drop the previous year and come as the industry battles a host of challenges, including piracy, competing forms of entertainment and a paucity of new talent.

The New York Times

When Bébé, considered one of Manchester's United worst ever signings, is the best Portuguese goalscorer in the national league following his loan to modest Paços de Ferreira, it becomes easier to gauge the paucity of attacking talent in a country that has nurtured some brilliant strikers.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "lack" or "shortage" if "paucity" sounds too formal or uncommon for your audience. Adapt your language to the readership to ensure clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "paucity of talent" without specifying the relevant field or industry. Vague references can lead to misinterpretations; ensure to define where the talent is lacking to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paucity of talent" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies and describes the condition of having an insufficient quantity of talent. As Ludwig AI states, it is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "paucity of talent" is a grammatically sound way to express a lack or scarcity of skilled individuals. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, it is essential to remember that it is a relatively formal expression. Therefore, consider your audience when choosing between "paucity of talent" and alternatives such as "lack of talent" or "shortage of talent". It is mostly used in News & Media and Science contexts and you should always aim for a clear indication of where talent is specifically lacking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lack of talent

Uses simpler vocabulary; replaces "paucity" with the more common "lack".

Shortage of talent

Substitutes "paucity" with "shortage", emphasizing the insufficiency of talent.

Scarcity of talent

Replaces "paucity" with "scarcity", conveying a limited availability of talent.

Dearth of talent

Uses "dearth" instead of "paucity", indicating a severe lack of talent.

Limited talent pool

Shifts the focus to the talent pool itself, describing it as limited.

Insufficient talent

Uses an adjective to describe the talent, rather than a noun describing the lack.

Deficiency in talent

Replaces "paucity" with "deficiency", highlighting the inadequacy of talent.

Inadequate talent resources

Focuses on talent as a resource, describing it as inadequate.

Limited availability of skilled individuals

More verbose, specifying "skilled individuals" rather than simply "talent".

A vacuum of talent

Metaphorically describes the lack of talent as a void or empty space.

FAQs

What does "paucity of talent" mean?

The phrase "paucity of talent" refers to a scarcity or lack of skilled and capable people in a particular area, such as an industry, a team, or a country.

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

You can use alternatives like "lack of talent", "shortage of talent", or "scarcity of talent" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "paucity of talent"?

"Paucity of talent" is a relatively formal phrase. In more casual settings, using "lack of talent" might be more appropriate.

Is it correct to say "paucity in talent" instead of "paucity of talent"?

While "paucity" can sometimes be followed by "in", it's more common and grammatically sound to say "paucity of talent". Saying "paucity in talent" is less conventional.