practically missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically missing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is almost absent or not present in a significant way. Example: "The report was practically missing any relevant data, making it difficult to draw conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the Hassi R'mel field, a strong event on the surface seismic sections, between clayey Dogger and lagoonal Dogger tops, is suspected to be a multiple because it is practically missing on the outside VSP corridor stacks.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

In contrast, audience-oriented reviews are practically missing; rather, imagined audiences tend to appear in the texts implicitly as similar to the reviewer, suggesting conceptions of a mass audience as well as specific groupings of general audiences.

Journal of Pragmatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The floor routine, she cannot practically miss.

The New York Times - Sports

So I passed it by having "good omens" and "G-d's plan" and practically missed my best friend's funeral so I could go to the movies with Mike Nagin, the boy who would eventually take my flower in '97.

Vice

An advantage of the present study is that detailed tax register information for several years preceding 2009 is available, practically without missing values, enabling an assessment of the family's economic resources independent of subjective evaluations.

Child Indicators Research

Most of them probably don't know that the Bills, in the 1990s, practically never missed the postseason.

The New York Times

Practically the only thing missing will be that cranky cheerleading coach scowling and scheming and stealing the show.

The New York Times

It is virtually inconceivable that the two sweetly bumbling officers in charge of the case can't find the missing teenagers practically under their noses.

The New York Times

However, it should be stressed that even using DArT markers it is practically impossible to avoid missing data that may appear at a level lower than 5% in the case of DArTs.

BMC Genomics

At the age of seven n = 1752 children (n = 845 girls and n = 907 boys) met these criteria's as shown in figure 1. Practically all of the missing children at this follow-up had moved out of the region, only a few had deceased.

BMC Family Practice

Practically, one will miss handy features such as import and export functions for often used chemicals such as acetone, diethyl ether, sodium hydroxide, and others.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically missing" to emphasize that something is not entirely gone but is so scarce or diminished that it's as good as absent in a practical sense. This adds a layer of nuance beyond simply saying "missing".

Common error

Avoid using "practically missing" when something is completely absent. This phrase implies a near-absence, not a total one. Using "completely missing" would be more appropriate in situations where something is entirely gone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically missing" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a state of near-absence or severe reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in describing something almost absent or not present in a significant way.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "practically missing" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that emphasizes a state of near-absence or severe reduction. Ludwig AI confirms this. While less formal than alternatives like "virtually absent", it effectively communicates a significant deficiency. Its use is most common in scientific and news contexts, and it serves to intensify the sense of something being severely lacking. To maintain precision, be mindful of overstating complete absence when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost absent

Focuses on the state of being nearly not present.

virtually absent

Emphasizes the near-complete absence of something.

nearly nonexistent

Highlights that something barely exists.

scarcely present

Indicates a minimal presence of something.

effectively absent

Stresses that something is absent in effect, though perhaps not in reality.

almost entirely absent

Amplifies the extent of the absence.

largely absent

Indicates a significant degree of absence.

noticeably absent

Highlights that the absence is easily observed.

conspicuously absent

Stresses the striking nature of the absence.

functionally absent

Focuses on the lack of functionality due to absence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "practically missing" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "virtually absent", "effectively absent", or "nearly nonexistent" to convey a similar meaning with greater sophistication.

When is it appropriate to use "practically missing" instead of just saying "missing"?

"Practically missing" is best used when something isn't completely gone, but its presence is so minimal that it doesn't serve its intended purpose. It suggests a severe reduction rather than a complete absence.

What does "practically missing" imply about the situation?

The phrase "practically missing" implies that while something may still exist in some form, its impact or functionality is severely compromised to the point of being negligible. It suggests a significant deficiency.

Can "practically missing" be used in all contexts?

While generally acceptable, "practically missing" may sound less formal than alternatives like "virtually absent" or "effectively absent". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing the most appropriate phrase.