that were deficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were deficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was lacking or insufficient in quality, quantity, or performance in the past. Example: "The reports submitted by the team that were deficient in detail were returned for revision."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Indeed the interface 1 mutants that were deficient for MMR conferred a deficiency in MutS/MutL complex formation.

eLife

Following this discovery he proposed that this, as well as several other conditions, were due to diets that were deficient in specific factors that he called "vitamines," later called vitamins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Moreover, adding requisite amounts of enzyme components that were deficient in the cocktail mixture may further improve the overall process efficiency.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

We identified six critical institutional relationship components that were deficient in past incidents, namely proactivity, communication, training, sharing expertise, trust and regulation.

Environment International

As we have previously shown that cardiac actin expression can modulate skeletal muscle actin disease, we also produced progeny from multiple CC strains that were deficient in skeletal muscle actin.

Neuromuscular Disorders

In addition those that were deficient in vitamin D at the time of their diagnosis of breast cancer were almost twice as likely to have recurrence or spread over those years.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Here, we're talking about stabilizing something that's deficient," Dr. Miller said.

The New York Times - Health

In the Parkinson's study, the researchers placed into a benign virus a gene that makes GABA, a brain chemical that is deficient in Parkinson's patients.

The New York Times

This allows the casein proteins to join together but in a weak network, forming brittle curds that are deficient in calcium.

The Guardian

Arthrum HCS® is a new intra-articular treatment combining in the same injection two compounds that are deficient in osteoarthritis.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

We recently showed that MS patients harbor CNS-specific CD8 + Tregs that are deficient during disease relapse.

Clinical Immunology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were deficient", ensure that the context clearly specifies what the subject was lacking. For example, "The reports that were deficient in data were rejected."

Common error

Avoid using "that were deficient" without clearly stating what the deficiency is. Vague statements can confuse the reader. Be specific about the missing or inadequate aspect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were deficient" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by providing additional information about its state of deficiency. Ludwig AI examples show it typically describes entities lacking necessary components or qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that were deficient" functions as a relative clause, commonly used to describe something lacking a necessary quality or element. Ludwig AI shows it's grammatically correct and frequently found in scientific and formal contexts, emphasizing a specific deficiency. While alternatives like "that were lacking" or "that were inadequate" exist, clarity in specifying the deficiency is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were lacking

Replaces "deficient" with "lacking", emphasizing the absence of something.

that were inadequate

Substitutes "deficient" with "inadequate", highlighting the insufficient nature of something.

that were missing

Uses "missing" instead of "deficient", focusing on the absence of necessary components.

that were insufficient

Employs "insufficient" to replace "deficient", stressing the inadequacy in quantity or quality.

that were short

Utilizes "short" to indicate a deficiency, particularly in terms of quantity or supply.

that were wanting

Replaces "deficient" with "wanting", conveying a sense of something being needed or desired but absent.

that were impaired

Substitutes "deficient" with "impaired", suggesting a weakened or damaged state.

that were compromised

Uses "compromised" instead of "deficient", indicating a reduction in quality or effectiveness.

that were weak

Employs "weak" to describe a deficiency, particularly in strength or effectiveness.

that were defective

Replaces "deficient" with "defective", highlighting the presence of flaws or imperfections.

FAQs

How can I use "that were deficient" in a sentence?

Use "that were deficient" to describe something lacking a necessary quality or element. For example, "The samples "that were deficient" in vitamin D were supplemented".

What are some alternatives to "that were deficient"?

You can use alternatives like "that were lacking", "that were inadequate", or "that were insufficient" depending on the context.

Is "that were deficient" formal or informal?

"That were deficient" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in scientific and technical writing.

What's the difference between "that were deficient" and "that were defective"?

"That were deficient" implies a lack or insufficiency, while "that were defective" suggests the presence of a flaw or imperfection that impairs functionality.