scarce time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarce time" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where there is not enough time available. Example: "With scarce time to spare, I quickly finished my presentation before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Policy engagement will steal scarce time for research.

The Guardian

We talk about scarce time like it's a bad thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Doing that ties up scarce time and people.

The Economist

"You're wasting scarce time by bringing in a plane with rather few people in it".

The New York Times

But the defense yielded two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, leaving Smith scarce time to counter.

The New York Times - Sports

His scarce time on a computer is usually spent on the YouTube channel Superhandles.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

A Roving Museum offers a scarce time-budget audience access to interpretive narratives via a portable infrastructure, a mobile telephony application and a social media driven platform.

Procedia Economics and Finance

More surprising than the many carnivorous varieties is the overwhelming number of vegetarian recipes, born of scarce times when people had to make do without meat.

The New Yorker

"There's been a net increase in the availably of water during scarce times and the protection of places during flooding times, which is exactly what the dams were intended to create," she explains.

BBC

The GOP drought proposal, which would send more water to Central Valley farms in these scarce times, has helped mobilize the environmentalists fighting Brown on the tunnels.

Los Angeles Times

In the cognitive radio network environment, the set of available spectrum bands might be different from node to node and might be scarce from time to time.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing resource allocation, explicitly state what is being sacrificed due to "scarce time". For example, "Due to "scarce time", we had to prioritize feature development over thorough testing."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "scarce time" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler phrases like "not enough time" or "limited time" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce time" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts, indicating that it effectively conveys the idea of a limited temporal resource.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively communicates the limited availability of time. According to Ludwig AI and supported by multiple examples, it is primarily employed in news, science and business contexts. When writing, consider the formality of your audience, as "scarce time", can be viewed as formal by some. Alternatives such as "limited time" or "not enough time" might be preferable in more casual settings. Remember to clearly articulate what is impacted by the "scarce time" to make your meaning more impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited time available

Emphasizes the constraint on the amount of time.

shortage of time

Highlights the deficiency in time resources.

precious time

Stresses the value and importance of the limited time.

valuable time

Focuses on the worth of the time being used.

limited opportunity

Shifts the focus to the constraints on available possibilities.

tight schedule

Implies a packed and demanding timeframe.

time poverty

Suggests a chronic lack of free time.

time crunch

Indicates a stressful situation caused by lack of time.

dearth of time

Emphasizes a severe lack of time.

exiguity of time

Highlights the small amount of available time (more formal).

FAQs

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

"Scarce time" is used to describe a situation where there is a limited amount of time available. For example, "Because of the "scarce time", we couldn't address all the customer requests".

What are some alternatives to using "scarce time"?

You can use alternatives like "limited time available", "shortage of time", or "precious time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "scarce time" or "limited time"?

Both phrases are correct, but "limited time" is more common and generally suitable for a broader range of contexts. "Scarce time" can add a slightly more formal or emphatic tone.

What does it mean when someone says time is scarce?

When someone says time is scarce, it means that there is not much time available to complete a task or fulfill a need. It implies that time is a valuable and limited resource.