substantial shortcomings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial shortcomings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant deficiencies or flaws in something, such as a report, project, or performance. Example: "The audit revealed substantial shortcomings in the financial reporting process that need to be addressed immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

No doubt, there were substantial shortcomings in the banks' mortgage servicing departments.

The New York Times

Researchers who in the mid-1990s observed more than 9,000 seriously ill patients in five American teaching hospitals found substantial shortcomings in the care of the dying.

The New York Times

Staff said they received little feedback from the senior team when they raised concerns and there were substantial shortcomings in communications between management and the clinical divisions.

The Guardian

But stating the obvious serves to explain why the Metropolitan Opera's season premiere performance of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," on Monday evening, was on the whole agreeable despite its substantial shortcomings.

The New York Times - Arts

The irony is that Mr. Bebchuk, who Mr. Icahn is nominating for Yahoo's board, wrote a paper in 2001 with the following conclusion: "Proxy fights unaccompanied by an acquisition often suffer from substantial shortcomings that limit the use of such contests in practice".

The New York Times

Several tools are already available but there are still substantial shortcomings.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The book's substantial shortcoming, however, is its failure to illuminate everything else "in between".

The Guardian - Books

The manually developed models have a substantial shortcoming due to model subjectivity and difficulties with accessing its reliability.

Neural Networks

This is a substantial shortcoming in the literature.

BMC Health Services Research

A further substantial shortcoming is that not all of the 92 patients who originally received implants were available for all follow-up visits.

BMC Oral Health

We do not know why the findings in this study would differ between urban and rural participants, and as such we suggest that this is not likely to be a substantial shortcoming of the study.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial shortcomings", specify the area or aspect to which these shortcomings relate for clarity. For example, "substantial shortcomings in project management" is more informative than just "substantial shortcomings".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "substantial shortcomings". While they are significant, ensure your assessment is balanced and proportionate to the actual impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial shortcomings" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "shortcomings". It describes the presence of significant deficiencies or flaws. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial shortcomings" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote significant deficiencies or flaws. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. The phrase is versatile, appearing in both news and scientific contexts. When using "substantial shortcomings", ensure you specify the context of the shortcomings and avoid exaggerating their impact. Consider alternatives like "significant deficiencies" or "major weaknesses" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant deficiencies

Replaces "shortcomings" with "deficiencies" and "substantial" with "significant", both denoting importance.

major weaknesses

Substitutes "shortcomings" with "weaknesses" and "substantial" with "major", highlighting key areas of vulnerability.

considerable limitations

Uses "limitations" instead of "shortcomings" and "considerable" in place of "substantial", suggesting notable constraints.

significant failings

Replaces "shortcomings" with "failings" and maintains "significant", emphasizing failures or inadequacies.

serious flaws

Uses "flaws" to replace "shortcomings" and "serious" for "substantial", focusing on critical imperfections.

critical defects

Substitutes "shortcomings" with "defects" and "substantial" with "critical", denoting severe imperfections.

notable imperfections

Employs "imperfections" instead of "shortcomings" and "notable" for "substantial", highlighting observable flaws.

marked inadequacies

Replaces "shortcomings" with "inadequacies" and "substantial" with "marked", signifying evident insufficiencies.

pronounced vulnerabilities

Uses "vulnerabilities" in place of "shortcomings" and "pronounced" for "substantial", emphasizing distinct susceptibilities.

glaring omissions

Replaces "shortcomings" with "omissions" and "substantial" with "glaring", focusing on conspicuous exclusions or oversights.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial shortcomings" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial shortcomings" to describe significant flaws or deficiencies in something. For example, "The report revealed "substantial shortcomings" in the company's financial controls".

What are some alternatives to "substantial shortcomings"?

Alternatives include "significant deficiencies", "major weaknesses", and "considerable limitations". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "substantial shortcomings" or "significant shortcomings"?

Both "substantial shortcomings" and "significant shortcomings" are correct and largely interchangeable. "Substantial" emphasizes the amount or degree, while "significant" emphasizes the importance or consequence. Choose the word that best fits the nuance you wish to convey.

What is the difference between "shortcomings" and "weaknesses"?

"Shortcomings" generally refer to deficiencies or failures to meet a standard, while "weaknesses" indicate areas of vulnerability or lack of strength. "Shortcomings" often imply a failure to achieve something, whereas "weaknesses" suggest a lack of inherent capability.