sparse presence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sparse presence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or context where something or someone is present in a limited or minimal way. Example: "The artist's sparse presence at the gallery opening left many attendees wondering about their creative process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But the generally sparse presence of American forces in the city has made it difficult to restore order, a formidable challenge under the best of circumstances.

The New York Times

Its sparse presence is in the bottom-up signage, used mainly for learning activities.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Given (i) the sparse presence of CWR populations in protected areas (ii) the strong suitability overlap between cultivated rice and its four CWRs; and (iii) the complexity of managing and regulating areas to prevent alien gene flow, the first priority should be to establish representative ex situ collections for all CWR species, which currently do not exist.

Rice

However, although var2csa repositioned and was highly transcribed, the sparse presence of translational products and absence of surface expression imply an additional layer of control, which remains to be further investigated.

Plosone

Synaptophysin and MAP-2 staining reveal the sparse presence of nerve fibers.

Acta Neuropathologica

This finding is consistent with the sparse presence of estrogen receptors in intracranial gliomas tissue samples (Paoletti et al. 1990).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

However, the American military presence is sparse in several areas of the city.

The New York Times

As it turned out, the scheduled Taiwan presence was sparse at the moment, just three.

The New York Times

Therefore, the l2-Sl0 algorithashas a larger capability to reconstruct sparse signal in the presence of noise than Sl0.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In the presence of sparse sampling, the analytical models often do not provide satisfactory results when there are so many unknown parameters.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

In addition to improving quantitative efficiency, the estimated rainfall field showed good visual performance in the presence of sparse gauge stations.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the availability of resources or personnel, use "sparse presence" to indicate a limited or insufficient amount. For example, "The project suffered from a sparse presence of experienced developers."

Common error

Avoid using "sparse presence" when a stronger term like "absence" or "lack" is more appropriate. "Sparse presence" implies something exists, but is minimal; it is not the same as complete non-existence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sparse presence" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object. It describes the state of something being present in a limited or minimal quantity. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sparse presence" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, indicating that something exists in a limited or minimal quantity. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its applicability in scientific, news, and formal contexts. While not as frequent as simpler terms like "limited presence", it offers a nuanced way to describe existence that isn't entirely absent but significantly reduced. When writing, it's important to consider the specific connotations to ensure it accurately reflects the intended meaning, differentiating it from complete absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited presence

Emphasizes the restriction in quantity or extent of the presence.

minimal presence

Highlights the presence being at its lowest possible level.

scant presence

Indicates that the presence is insufficient or barely adequate.

rare appearance

Focuses on the infrequency of something being seen or observed.

thin distribution

Highlights how something is spread out in a way it's not dense.

patchy distribution

Indicates that something is spread out in an uneven way.

scattered occurrence

Emphasizes the randomness and infrequency of the presence.

infrequent visibility

Highlights that something isn't visible very often.

reduced incidence

Suggests a lower rate or frequency of something happening.

weak manifestation

Emphasizes that something is happening or being shown but not in a strong way.

FAQs

How can I use "sparse presence" in a sentence?

You can use "sparse presence" to describe a situation where something or someone exists in a limited or minimal way. For example: "The "limited presence" of security personnel made the area unsafe."

What are some alternatives to "sparse presence"?

Alternatives include "limited presence", "minimal presence", or "scant presence" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "sparse presence" or "lack of presence"?

The choice depends on the context. "Sparse presence" indicates something exists in a minimal amount. "Lack of presence" indicates something does not exist at all. Use "sparse presence" when something is there, but not enough.

What does "sparse presence" mean in a scientific context?

In a scientific context, "sparse presence" often refers to a small or insufficient quantity of a substance, element, or organism being observed or detected. For instance, "The "limited presence" of certain antibodies suggested a weak immune response."