shortage of basic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shortage of basic" is not complete and lacks clarity in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing a lack of fundamental resources or necessities, but it needs to be followed by a noun to specify what is basic. Example: "The community is facing a shortage of basic necessities such as food and clean water."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Compounding the problem of graft is a shortage of basic operational competence.

The New Yorker

He concluded that the main reason for famines is not a shortage of basic food.

The Economist

Other activists spoke of a critical shortage of basic food items and medical equipment.

The New York Times

A shortage of basic goods and skyrocketing food prices are fuelling discontent in Egypt, where a currency crisis has hit imports.

The Guardian

A government-run ice cream factory opened with great fanfare, only to shut down a day later because of a shortage of basic ingredients.

The New York Times

The shortage of basic necessities that has attended Cuban communism has made them experts at la cola (the queue or line), with a system that can at once impress, confuse and piss off the unschooled foreigner.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

A business improvement district was approved this year for Fulton Street with the goal of improving retail options; a chief complaint is the shortage of basics like grocery stores.

The New York Times

Health workers in Kenama, in Sierra Leone's badly-affected eastern region, said they were using plastic bags amid a shortage of basics such as rubber gloves.

The Guardian

It has high inflation and chronic shortages of basic goods.

The New York Times

El Pampero also suffers from shortages of basic personal-care and cleaning supplies.

The New York Times

This has come at the cost of stratospheric inflation and harrowing shortages of basic goods.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "shortage of basic" with a noun to specify what is lacking (e.g., "shortage of basic supplies").

Common error

Avoid using "shortage of basic" without specifying what is considered "basic". For instance, saying there's a "shortage of basic" is less effective than specifying a "shortage of basic food items" or "shortage of basic medical supplies".

Linguistic Context

Noun phrase indicating a deficiency in essential items or resources. Ludwig examples showcase its use in contexts like food, medical supplies, and goods, emphasizing a lack of fundamental necessities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shortage of basic" is used to describe a lack of essential resources. Ludwig's analysis shows that while grammatically acceptable, it benefits from the addition of a clarifying noun to improve precision. It is commonly used in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI notes this phrase lacks clarity and would be more effective followed by a noun. Related phrases include "lack of fundamental" and "dearth of essential". When using "shortage of basic", clarity can be improved by specifying the precise goods or services that are lacking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of fundamental

Replaces "shortage" with "lack" and "basic" with "fundamental", emphasizing the absence of essential elements.

dearth of essential

Substitutes "shortage" with "dearth", implying a scarcity, and "basic" with "essential", highlighting necessity.

insufficiency of primary

Replaces "shortage" with "insufficiency", indicating inadequacy, and "basic" with "primary", stressing importance.

deficit of key

Changes "shortage" to "deficit", denoting a deficiency, and "basic" to "key", underlining importance.

scarcity of elementary

Replaces "shortage" with "scarcity", emphasizing limited availability, and "basic" with "elementary", denoting simplicity and fundamentality.

limited supply of essential

Rephrases the concept to focus on a constrained supply of necessary items.

inadequate provision of fundamental

Focuses on the insufficient provision or supply of fundamental resources.

paucity of vital

Uses "paucity" to indicate smallness in quantity and "vital" to stress critical importance.

critical need for

Shifts focus to the urgent need, implying an underlying lack of essential resources.

absence of necessities

Generalizes the phrase to the absence of things that are needed.

FAQs

How can I use "shortage of basic" in a sentence?

The phrase "shortage of basic" requires a noun to clarify what is lacking. For example, you can say "There is a "shortage of basic food"" or "The hospital is experiencing a "shortage of basic supplies"".

What's a more formal way to say "shortage of basic"?

For a more formal tone, you might use "lack of fundamental" or "dearth of essential" resources.

Is it grammatically correct to say "shortage of basic"?

While commonly used, "shortage of basic" is incomplete without specifying what is basic. So, while you might encounter it, it is best practice to clarify with a noun: "shortage of basic goods".

What is the difference between "shortage of basic goods" and "lack of necessities"?

"Shortage of basic goods" specifically refers to a deficiency in essential items such as food or supplies. "Lack of necessities" is a broader term that could also include services or other fundamental needs.