scarce access

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarce access" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where access to something is limited or hard to obtain. Example: "In rural areas, there is often scarce access to healthcare facilities, making it difficult for residents to receive medical attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

A 2010 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs detailed a woeful shortage of services for LGBT violence victims – including scarce access to shelters.

The New York Times

"This year, La Guajira suffered a prolonged drought of nine months," said Lyda Forero, a researcher at TNI. "In our talks with the communities, we saw people had very scarce access to water, while the mine continued consuming, and drying up, the wells and sources".

The Guardian

The heavy seasonal rains, earthquakes and other severe weather events over the past years have devastated infrastructure throughout Ecuador, Peru and neighboring countries, displacing millions of people and limiting already scarce access to clean water.

Forbes

Not being in the right place at the right time causes lots of problems and inconveniences — from long-distance relationships to traffic-filled commutes, rural isolation to scarce access to art and entertainment.

TechCrunch

Mpesa was created to transfer money among people with scarce access to formal banking and no credit cards.

Huffington Post

In the dozens of refugee camps now surrounding Syria, food remains scarce, access to sanitation and clean water is limited, and diseases like polio -- on the verge of eradication worldwide -- have resurfaced.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Fearing higher interest rates and scarcer access to capital, many emerging-market governments have also criticised the plan.

The Economist

If funds become scarcer, access to education will continue to stagnate and the quality of schools will decline, denying the most vulnerable children in the world's poorest countries their basic human right to quality education: without it, their future opportunities are dramatically limited.

Unicef

At sea, time can be even more scarce than access.

The New York Times - Tech

"The networks hold a scarce commodity, access to mass audiences in an attractive environment, but with the economy weighing heavily on the shoulders of advertisers, and a strike, the buyers have a stronger hand".

The New York Times

Ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) technology is a promising solution for next generation RFID systems to overcome most of the limitations of current narrow bandwidth RFID technology, such as reduced area coverage, insufficient ranging resolution for accurate localization, sensitivity to interference, and scarce multiple access capability.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scarce access", clearly specify what resource or opportunity is limited to provide context and clarity for your audience.

Common error

While "scarce access" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "limited access" or "restricted access" in academic or professional writing to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce access" functions as a noun phrase, where "scarce" modifies the noun "access". It describes a situation where the availability or attainability of something is limited. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce access" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes a limited availability or attainability of something. As Ludwig AI verifies, it is correct and usable. While it appears frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts, alternatives such as "limited access" or "restricted access" might be more suitable for formal writing. When using the phrase, it's important to clearly specify what resource or opportunity is limited to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited availability

Focuses on the limited quantity or supply of something.

restricted access

Emphasizes the limitations or restrictions placed on gaining entry or use.

meager availability

Highlights the insufficiency or inadequacy of the supply.

limited accessibility

Focuses on the degree to which something can be reached or obtained, when that degree is poor.

rare accessibility

Emphasizes that something can be reached or obtained only on rare occasions or in a small number of situations.

infrequent access

Highlights the rare or occasional nature of gaining entry or use.

minimal access

Emphasizes the very small amount of access available.

poor availability

Focuses on the low and inadequate supply of something.

deficient accessibility

Highlights the inadequacy of something to be reached or obtained.

inadequate accessibility

Emphasizes that something is insufficient to be reached or obtained.

FAQs

What does "scarce access" mean?

"Scarce access" refers to a situation where something is difficult to obtain or available only in limited quantities. It suggests a deficiency or inadequacy in the ability to reach or use something.

What are some alternatives to "scarce access"?

You can use alternatives such as "limited access", "restricted access", or "meager availability" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "scarce access" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "In developing countries, there is often "scarce access" to clean drinking water", illustrating a common context for the phrase.

Is "scarce access" formal or informal?

The term "scarce access" is suitable for both neutral and informal contexts. However, in more formal or academic writing, "limited access" might be preferred.