scarce to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'scarce to' is not correct or usable in written English.
You might be thinking of the phrase 'scarcely to', which has a different meaning. For example, "The money was scarcely enough to feed the family for a week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sympathy is too scarce to waste on strangers, he explained.

The New York Times

That history of demand has already made Caribbean mahogany too scarce to log.

The New York Times

In recent times, the feat had gone from scarce to almost extinct.

The New York Times - Sports

Stability has given way to full unpredictability, and opportunities for the young are scarce to nonexistent.

The New York Times

"They have gone from scarce to rare," said David Ramsden, head of conservation at the Barn Owl Trust.

The Guardian

Telephone lines, scarce to begin with between Kandahar and Pakistan before the war, were cut when the bombing started.

The New York Times

These were too scarce to be seen under the microscope – only the more sensitive DNA detection approach picked them up.

The Guardian

The F-35 program is too necessary and budget dollars too scarce to permit further waste or delay.

The New York Times

With vacant land scarce to the west, developers have turned to Wading River's wooded areas and farms to build large tracts of single-family homes.

The New York Times

Polar bear numbers in key regions have been shown to be declining, but in many areas data is too scarce to know.

The Guardian

The result was that we have moved with astonishing rapidity from a world in which data was scarce to one in which it is super-abundant.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "scarce to", consider using more grammatically correct and widely accepted alternatives such as "scarce for", "limited to", or "rarely to" depending on the specific context you want to convey. Always proofread your writing to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is to assume that "scarce to" is a valid prepositional phrase. Remember that "scarce" typically describes a noun, and when followed by a preposition, "for" is often more appropriate. Using "scarce to" might lead to confusion and misinterpretation by readers. Always double-check preposition usage after adjectives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce to" is grammatically questionable. It is intended to modify a noun, indicating limited availability; however, Ludwig AI suggests it is incorrect, advising to use a different structure. While it appears in multiple sources, the usage is non-standard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

59%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scarce to" is frequently encountered but flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. While various sources, including news outlets and scientific publications, use it, opting for alternatives such as "scarce for", "limited to", or rephrasing the sentence altogether is recommended for clearer and more accurate communication. Ensure to consider the specific context to choose the best alternative. While the frequency of use might suggest acceptability, prioritizing grammatical correctness enhances the credibility and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited to

Indicates a restriction or confinement, similar to something being "scarce".

rarely to

Shifts the focus to the infrequency of an action or event, rather than the availability of a resource.

insufficient to

Highlights the inadequacy of something for a particular purpose due to its scarcity.

inadequate to

Similar to "insufficient to", emphasizing the lack of something necessary.

scarce for

Changes the preposition to focus on the purpose or recipient of the scarcity.

few and far between

An idiomatic expression indicating rarity or infrequency.

thin on the ground

Another idiomatic expression signifying scarcity or limited availability.

in short supply

Highlights that something is not readily available due to its scarcity.

not abundant

A direct way of saying that something is not plentiful, implying scarcity.

hard to come by

Suggests that something is difficult to obtain because it is scarce.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "scarce to" in a sentence?

Replace "scarce to" with a more grammatically correct alternative. Depending on the context, consider using phrases like "limited to", "scarce for", or restructuring the sentence to use "rare" or "infrequent".

What does it mean when something is described as "scarce"?

When something is described as "scarce", it means it is limited in quantity or availability. It is not plentiful and may be difficult to obtain. Consider alternatives like "limited", "rare", or "in short supply" for clearer communication.

Is "scarce to" ever correct in English?

While "scarce" is a valid adjective, the phrase "scarce to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for alternatives like "scarce for" or rephrase your sentence to avoid this construction. Ludwig AI points out that this phrase is non-standard.

What are some formal alternatives to the adjective "scarce"?

For formal writing, consider using words like "limited", "meager", or "deficient" instead of "scarce". These alternatives provide a more precise and professional tone, avoiding the problematic "scarce to" construction.