scarce material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarce material" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe resources or items that are in limited supply or hard to find. Example: "Due to the recent supply chain issues, we are facing challenges in sourcing scarce material for our production line."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It's one example of how the region makes the most of relatively scarce material.

The New York Times - Travel

This is particularly important in the case of an expensive or scarce material.

Electrochimica Acta

Aspects of radioactive waste management and scarce material recycling were also considered.

Fusion Engineering and Design

A second issue is that uranium is a comparatively scarce material, which exists in significant quantities in only a small number of countries.

The Guardian

This rich and complex history is made more remarkable by the continent's struggles to cope with a fragile environment, scarce material resources, political conflicts, and the unpleasant legacy of imperialism.

Britannica

In the afternoon the attention turned to crosscutting issues such as the challenges of developing a substitute for a scarce material; the way that information on mineral production and reserves is gathered by the Minerals Information Team of the US Geological Survey; and the way that other countries have responded to potential shortfalls of energy-critical elements.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

He learned how to obtain substitutes for scarce materials and use less of those available.

The New York Times - Books

By 1929, the library contained more than 70,000 books and pamphlets, including many scarce materials.

Columbia University

But even the fall warm-up edition gives a chance to see scarce materials on short-term view.

The New York Times

To some extent, the cost of sourcing ever more scarce materials can be passed on to customers.

The Guardian

They systematically reveal impacts such as cross product contamination or dissipation of scarce materials among others.

Toxicology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "scarce material", provide context on why it's scarce and the impact of its scarcity on the subject matter. For example, "Due to the "scarce material", production costs have increased."

Common error

Avoid using "scarce material" as a generic term for any limited resource. Be specific about why the material is scarce (e.g., limited natural deposits, complex extraction processes) to provide a more precise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce material" functions primarily as an adjective-noun combination, where "scarce" modifies the noun "material". This phrase is used to describe a substance or resource that is limited in availability, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce material" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote resources that are limited in availability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable in written English. Although not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse fields such as science, news, and business, suggesting a neutral register. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to provide context on the causes and implications of the scarcity. Alternative phrases like "limited resource" or "rare commodity" may also be appropriate depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited resource

This alternative highlights the finite availability of the resource.

rare commodity

This suggests the material is not commonly found and thus valuable.

deficient supply

This emphasizes the inadequacy of the material's availability.

restricted substance

This indicates that access to the material is controlled or limited.

inadequate provision

Focuses on the lack of sufficient material to meet needs.

limited stock

This refers to the quantity of material that is currently available.

rare find

Implies that obtaining the material is difficult and uncommon.

precious resource

This emphasizes the value and limited availability of the material.

tight supply

This suggests that the material is not readily available and could be difficult to obtain.

dwindling reserve

This highlights that the quantity of the material is decreasing over time.

FAQs

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

"Scarce material" can be used to describe a resource that is in limited supply. For example: "The project was delayed due to the "scarce material" required for construction."

What is a good alternative to "scarce material"?

Alternatives to "scarce material" include "limited resource", "rare commodity", or "deficient supply". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "scarce material" the same as "scarce materials"?

While both refer to limited availability, "scarce material" typically refers to a single type of resource, whereas "scarce materials" implies multiple different resources are in short supply. For example, "Due to the drought, lumber became a "scarce material"" versus "The factory struggled to maintain production due to "scarce materials" such as steel and copper."

What factors can contribute to a material becoming "scarce material"?

Several factors can lead to a material becoming a "scarce material", including depletion of natural resources, environmental regulations, geopolitical instability, and high demand. For example, Indium is a "scarce material" used in electronics.