suffering from lack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suffering from lack" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a situation where someone is experiencing difficulties due to an absence of something. Example: "The community is suffering from lack of access to clean water." Alternative expressions include "experiencing a shortage" and "deprived of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

And Brazil is slowing.Argentina's economy is once again suffering from lack of competitiveness and fiscal laxity.

The Economist

The trustees finally decided that the museum was suffering from lack of direction and hired Mr. Rogers to make changes.

The New York Times - Arts

I should be able to breathe without the sky suffering from lack of birds, he ruefully tells us.

The New Yorker

Katherine Gleason, a writer in New York, was suffering from lack of sleep because of her upstairs neighbors.

The New York Times

The prevalence of zero-change wages constitutes overwhelming evidence that we're suffering from lack of demand, not lack of supply.

The New York Times

And I bet the number of men suffering from lack of awareness is a lot higher than the number of women.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

If Ferenczi's patients had suffered from the Sabbath, I was suffering from the lack thereof.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He was suffering from a lack of healthcare," Ali said.

The Guardian

But we were not suffering from a lack of supplies.

The New York Times - Magazine

But are we really suffering from a lack of knowledge?

The Guardian - Opinion

The world is not suffering from a lack of inventiveness.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the noun following "lack" is specific to provide clarity to the reader, such as "suffering from lack of sleep" or "suffering from lack of funding".

Common error

Avoid using "suffering from lack" when describing a temporary dip in supply that does not cause actual distress; in those cases, "experiencing a shortage" is more accurate and less dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suffering from lack" functions as a complex participial phrase that serves to identify the root cause of a specific hardship or malfunctioning state. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically robust and serves as a standard way to link a state of distress to a specific deficiency.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suffering from lack" is a versatile and correct linguistic tool used to describe the detrimental effects of an absence. Ludwig AI confirms its high frequency in authoritative news, academic and scientific sources. Whether used to describe an economy "suffering from lack" of demand or a person "suffering from lack" of sleep, the phrase effectively communicates distress rooted in deficiency. It is perfectly interchangeable with "suffering from a lack" and remains a staple of professional writing due to its clarity and directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffering from a deficiency of

More clinical or technical, often used in scientific contexts

experiencing a shortage of

Focuses on the logistical or quantitative deficiency of a resource

plagued by a lack of

Emphasizes that the deficiency is causing persistent problems or distress

deprived of

Stronger connotation of being stripped of something essential

struggling with an absence of

Focuses on the effort required to overcome the missing component

lacking

A simpler, more direct verb form of the phrase

starved of

Metaphorical and intense, suggesting a desperate need for the missing element

deficient in

Used when describing a qualitative failure in a system or person

under-resourced in

Specifically refers to organizational or financial shortcomings

bereft of

A more literary and emotive way to describe total lack

FAQs

How do I use "suffering from lack" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a negative state caused by an absence, for example: "The project is "suffering from lack of funding" and may be canceled."

What is the difference between "suffering from lack" and "suffering from a lack"?

Both are correct. "Suffering from lack" uses "lack" as an abstract noun, whereas "suffering from a lack" treats it as a countable instance of deficiency. The former is often found in journalistic or academic shorthand.

What is a more formal way to say "suffering from lack"?

In formal or clinical writing, you might prefer "deficient in" or "experiencing a deficiency of".

Can I use "suffering from lack" for people?

Yes, it is commonly used for biological needs, such as saying someone is "suffering from lack of sleep" or nutrition.