that were lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is missing or insufficient in a particular context. Example: "The report highlighted several resources that were lacking in the current project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Buttler vividly displayed all the qualities that were lacking in his colleagues.

The Guardian - Sport

But he pointed to two things that were lacking: "congressional action or a strong judicial precedent".

The New Yorker

But, surprisingly, it wasn't necessarily specific technical skills that were lacking.

The New York Times

I hope the support continues after the Games are gone because it's given some pride to some places that were lacking it.

The Guardian

The Internet and "big box" stores provide the kind of conveniences that were lacking in much of Alaska until just a decade ago.

The New York Times

The agreement, or protocol, that was rejected by the Bush administration today was aimed at providing compliance provisions that were lacking in the treaty.

The New York Times

"The thing about Bron was that he could have been angry about some of the things that were lacking in his life," Cotton said.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a slow-burning report, and its television opening had an elegance and lightness of touch and courtesy that were lacking in the US Senate intelligence committee's presentation of its report last week.

The Guardian

With Soviet authority crumbling, Islamic vigilante groups had established security and social services that were lacking in the Fergana Valley, and after one extremist group seized a building, Mr. Karimov went to negotiate with its representatives.

The New York Times

But it wasn't just our flood defences that were lacking – one of the toughest challenges during the floods was providing people in affected areas with up-to-date information.

The Guardian

CCTs are good at providing those because, however small the stipend, it gives children an incentive to go to school and encourages markets to develop in the goods and services that were lacking before.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were lacking", ensure the context clearly indicates what is missing or insufficient and why it matters. This adds precision and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "that were lacking" without specifying what is being referred to. This can confuse readers. Instead, clearly state what qualities, resources, or elements were missing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were lacking" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by describing attributes or elements that were absent or insufficient. It introduces additional information about the noun it modifies, adding detail about what was missing. Ludwig confirms its validity and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that were lacking" is a versatile relative clause used to denote deficiencies or absences. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and commonly employed across various writing styles. It's crucial to provide clear context, specifying what exactly was missing to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "that were missing" or "that were deficient", offering nuanced ways to convey the same idea. While suitable for neutral to formal contexts, ensure clarity by specifying the missing elements. With its frequent occurrence in science and news media, it demonstrates its broad applicability and reliability in diverse communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were lacking in

Adds the preposition "in" to connect the lacking element more directly to the subject.

that were missing

Focuses on the absence of something rather than its deficiency.

that were deficient

Highlights the inadequacy or imperfection of something.

that were absent

Emphasizes a complete lack of presence.

that were insufficient

Stresses the inadequacy in terms of quantity or quality.

that were inadequate

Similar to insufficient, but can also imply unsuitability.

that were unavailable

Indicates something could not be accessed or obtained.

that were needed but absent

Highlights the necessity of the missing element.

that there was a dearth of

Emphasizes a scarcity or shortage of something.

that failed to provide

Focuses on the failure to supply a required element.

FAQs

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

Use "that were lacking" to describe something missing or insufficient. For example, "The report highlighted several resources "that were lacking" in the current project."

What are some alternatives to "that were lacking"?

You can use alternatives like "that were missing", "that were deficient", or "that were insufficient" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "that was lacking" or "that were lacking"?

Use "that was lacking" for singular nouns and "that were lacking" for plural nouns. For example, "The skill that was lacking" versus "The skills that were lacking".

How can I emphasize the importance of what's "that were lacking"?

To emphasize the importance, add context explaining the consequences of what's missing or insufficient. For example, "The safety measures "that were lacking" led to several preventable accidents."