significant deficiencies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant deficiencies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing notable shortcomings or inadequacies in a particular area, such as performance, quality, or compliance. Example: "The audit revealed significant deficiencies in the company's financial reporting practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moreover, these mice showed no significant deficiencies in primary or secondary Ab responses, although these SAP97-deficient mice tended to produce less high-affinity Abs in secondary responses.

Cell Research

There are significant deficiencies in the infrastructure of all America's transportation modes — highways, rail and air.

The New York Times

An assessment team, he added, found "significant deficiencies" in border control.

The New York Times

Defending, Euan Macmillan agreed that there are "significant deficiencies" with the document.

Independent

In 2009, an independent auditor's report found significant deficiencies in the agency's aging information systems.

The New York Times

Some elements exhibit significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality, with increasing vulnerability to risk.

Procedia Engineering

Exelon, based in Chicago, said it was acting even though a review of security at its other plants found "no significant deficiencies".

The New York Times

Ofcom will encourage investment, alert the government of "any significant deficiencies" in coverage and deliver a report on progress every two years".

The Guardian - Tech

"To the contrary," Mr. Brown said, the trial "revealed significant deficiencies in, among other things, supervision, tactical planning, communications and management accountability — insufficiencies that need to be addressed".

The New York Times

And it found that though the agency completed the seven required inspections at Crandall Canyon in 2006 and 2007, there were significant deficiencies in three of the inspections.

The New York Times

From today's Politico: Her debut speech at the GOP's convention won wide acclaim, but immediately afterward it was clear to McCain's aides that she had significant deficiencies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant deficiencies", consider quantifying the extent of the deficiencies or specifying their impact to enhance the clarity and weight of your statement. Instead of just stating that a system has significant deficiencies, explain how those deficiencies affect performance or safety.

Common error

Avoid using "significant deficiencies" when the issues are minor or inconsequential. This can exaggerate the problem and undermine your credibility. Reserve the phrase for situations where the shortcomings have a clear and substantial impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant deficiencies" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "significant" modifies the noun "deficiencies". It identifies and characterizes shortcomings or inadequacies. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significant deficiencies" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote substantial inadequacies or shortcomings. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business communications. The phrase serves to highlight and emphasize critical areas needing improvement. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the identified deficiencies are indeed significant and to provide specific details to support the assertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major shortcomings

Emphasizes the importance of the deficiencies, focusing on the aspect of gravity.

serious flaws

Highlights critical imperfections affecting the overall integrity.

notable inadequacies

Focuses on the conspicuous lack of something essential.

considerable weaknesses

Indicates a substantial degree of vulnerability or lack of strength.

marked imperfections

Highlights the noticeable deviation from perfection or ideal state.

substantial defects

Stresses significant impairments affecting the functionality or value.

pronounced limitations

Focuses on clear and distinct constraints or boundaries.

glaring omissions

Emphasizes the obvious and conspicuous nature of what has been left out.

critical failures

Highlights the vital aspects that have not succeeded or met the required standards.

acute shortcomings

Indicates severe and pressing lacks or faults.

FAQs

How can I use "significant deficiencies" in a sentence?

You can use "significant deficiencies" to describe notable shortcomings or inadequacies. For example, "The audit revealed "significant deficiencies" in the company's financial reporting practices".

What are some alternatives to saying "significant deficiencies"?

You can use alternatives like "major shortcomings", "serious flaws", or "notable inadequacies" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "significant deficiency" instead of "significant deficiencies"?

Yes, "significant deficiency" is correct when referring to a singular shortcoming. "Significant deficiencies" is used when referring to multiple shortcomings.

What is the difference between "significant deficiencies" and "minor issues"?

"Significant deficiencies" indicates substantial and impactful shortcomings, whereas "minor issues" suggests less important or inconsequential problems.