paucity of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paucity of time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where there is not enough time. For example: "We are facing a paucity of time to complete the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Given the paucity of time we have with first-year students, do we have other viable options?

Cornell University

Khan Academy – If by looking at videos and working on courses in snippets because of the paucity of time is how you would like to roll, then Khan Academy is your place to learn.

Stanford University

Physical education should be taught by qualified teaching specialists, and yet we know that primary schoolteachers often feel ill-equipped to teach the subject, given the paucity of time dedicated to it within their training.

The Guardian - Opinion

Considering the paucity of time that the team had to unpack the 85 container loads of equipment, set up the stage and erect the lighting rigs and screen towers, there were remarkably few glitches.

The Guardian - Music

The third reason was paucity of time.

Language Testing in Asia

It's an issue that I've touched on previously after a report published earlier this year revealed the paucity of time spent by academics on commercial activity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Because of the size of the overall model and the paucity of time-series observations, the model was estimated piecemeal by blocks of equations corresponding to actual output, employment, income, population and final demand using a nonlinear quasi-full-information maximum-likelihood (FIML) estimator in the program ESCONA of Wymer's (2004) WYSEA package.

Journal of Economic Structures

The general paucity of long time series data on individual phenotypes for most angling fisheries (Post et al. 2002) limits the practical application of such approaches for recreational fisheries.

Evolutionary Applications

Clinicians do not routinely seek laboratory confirmation for several reasons: diagnosis will often not alter patient management, a paucity of real-time, accurate, inexpensive testing methods [4] and because influenza is not recognized as the etiology of the clinical presentation[5].

Plosone

There is a paucity of careful time-course studies published that collect serial/daily blood data over 2 3 weeks or more.

Cancer Management and Research

There is a paucity of sufficiently long time series of high-quality cancer data in many developing areas at the present time, but nonetheless, where they are available, increases in breast cancer incidence and mortality are seen, an observation often more apparent within recent birth cohorts [ 45], and a probable consequence of the adoption of western lifestyles [ 46].

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "paucity of time" in formal or academic writing to convey a sophisticated tone when discussing time limitations.

Common error

Avoid using "paucity of time" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "not enough time" or "limited time" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paucity of time" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating a lack or shortage of available time. Ludwig confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paucity of time" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a lack or shortage of available time. It finds its place primarily in formal, academic, scientific, and news contexts. While perfectly acceptable, "paucity" is not a commonly known word, so the user should evaluate his audience and the context to decide if this phrase is appropriate. If writing for a general audience, consider using alternatives such as "lack of time" or "shortage of time" for better understanding. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable, cautioning against overuse in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortage of time

Replaces "paucity" with "shortage", a more common synonym, making the phrase slightly less formal.

lack of time

Uses "lack" to indicate absence, simplifying the vocabulary while retaining the core meaning.

limited time

Emphasizes the restriction on time, suitable when highlighting constraints.

time constraints

Focuses on the restrictions placed by time, often used in project management contexts.

scarcity of time

Substitutes "paucity" with "scarcity", providing a slightly less formal but still elevated vocabulary.

insufficiency of time

Highlights the inadequacy of available time, often used in more formal or academic settings.

time deficit

Implies a shortfall in time, a more concise and direct alternative.

restricted timeframe

Emphasizes that the duration of the timeframe is tight and limited.

tight schedule

Highlights the packed nature of the schedule, causing the time to be not enough.

compressed timeline

Suggests that events must occur more quickly than would normally be expected

FAQs

How can I use "paucity of time" in a sentence?

You can use "paucity of time" to describe situations where there is a lack of sufficient time. For example, "Due to the "paucity of time", we had to make quick decisions."

What are some alternatives to "paucity of time"?

Alternatives include "lack of time", "shortage of time", or "limited time". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Is it better to say "paucity of time" or "lack of time"?

"Paucity of time" is more formal and less common than "lack of time". Use ""paucity of time"" in formal writing to add a sophisticated tone. "Lack of time" is suitable for general use.

When is it appropriate to use "paucity of time" in writing?

Use "paucity of time" in academic papers, formal reports, or professional documents where a higher level of vocabulary is expected. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "not enough time" may be more effective.