significantly lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is noticeably deficient or insufficient in a particular aspect. Example: "The report was significantly lacking in detail, making it difficult to draw any conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Israel's Ministry of Education issued a statement in late January dismissing the new research as "biased, unprofessional and significantly lacking in objectivity".

The New York Times

For someone significantly lacking in patience, like me, this was depressing news.

TechCrunch

Few studies have addressed this use, and research using quantitative design is significantly lacking.

Clinical Simulation in Nursing

The details of this program were significantly lacking, so it is difficult to interpret this result relative to those of other studies.

Sports Medicine - Open

The other parameters such as the pore connectivity term (l) and the degree of anisotropy (k) were significantly lacking data, thus only their relationships with porosity were proposed.

Waste Management

Cornwallis began negotiating with the Marathas and the Nizam for their support, since the British forces in India were significantly lacking in cavalry, one of Tipu's strengths.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

One factor may be the discrepancy between the mood of optimism conveyed by Happy-Go-Lucky, contrasted with the more sombre feel of Another Year, which significantly lacks a youthful major cast member.

The Guardian - Film

The agency "has the legal authority to regulate the utilities, but significantly lacks the technical capability to independently evaluate what they propose," said Satoshi Sato, who has nearly 30 years' experience working in the nuclear industry in the United States and Japan.

The New York Times

As determination of a well-defined range of recovery coefficients is complicated for various reasons, a simpler approach based on the assumption that the iodine uptake is highly focal with a background that significantly lacks radioactivity might be more efficient.

EJNMMI Research

While the majority of health websites and online health communities offered users fairly rich information about general health concerns, user environments in online health communities significantly lacked both structural and functional cues to encourage user contribution.

Computers in Human Behavior

For instance, the first Republication presidential debate of the year significantly lacked mention of such issues -- and that doesn't sit well with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significantly lacking" when you want to emphasize a notable deficiency or insufficiency in something. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts where clarity and impact are desired.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly lacking" in extremely casual or informal settings where simpler terms like "missing" or "short on" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your communication sound unnatural or forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly lacking" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating a notable deficiency or insufficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The examples show its use in academic, scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "significantly lacking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression denoting a considerable deficiency. As Ludwig AI validates, it's apt across diverse contexts, especially science, news, and general knowledge domains. While alternatives such as "noticeably deficient" or "markedly insufficient" exist, "significantly lacking" provides a strong, clear way to communicate that something falls notably short. Although its formality might be unsuitable for very casual settings, it remains a valuable asset in more structured or professional communication. Its proper use involves emphasizing the degree to which something is insufficient, not merely absent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

noticeably deficient

Emphasizes the obviousness of the lack.

markedly insufficient

Highlights the inadequacy of something.

considerably short

Focuses on the extent of the deficiency.

substantially inadequate

Stresses the unacceptability of the lack.

seriously deficient

Emphasizes the severity of the lack.

woefully inadequate

Implies a regrettable or unfortunate lack.

distinctly absent

Focuses on the clear absence of something.

critically limited

Highlights the severe restrictions caused by the lack.

patently deficient

Emphasizes the obvious and undeniable nature of the deficiency.

glaringly insufficient

Stresses the highly noticeable and unacceptable inadequacy.

FAQs

How can I use "significantly lacking" in a sentence?

You can use "significantly lacking" to describe something that has a clear deficiency. For instance, "The research was significantly lacking in empirical evidence" or "The project is significantly lacking resources".

What are some alternatives to "significantly lacking"?

Alternatives include "noticeably deficient", "markedly insufficient", or "considerably short" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is 'significantly lacking' or should I use another phrase?

Saying something is "significantly lacking" is grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey, but "significantly lacking" is generally acceptable.

What does "significantly lacking" imply compared to just saying 'lacking'?

"Significantly lacking" emphasizes that the deficiency is substantial and noteworthy, while simply saying 'lacking' is a more general statement of absence. The addition of "significantly" underscores the importance or severity of the deficiency.