that were missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"that were missing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to things which have been lost or disappeared. For example: "We located the tools that were missing from the shed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It sounded like there were whole tracks that were missing".

The New York Times - Arts

For the youngsters, it was just a smiling face and endless jokes that were missing.

The New York Times - Sports

Spots that were missing in more than 25% of gels were not taken into account.

Nature

The pieces that were missing are starting to make their way back.

The Guardian - Sport

Gabriel Resources says it would build in safeguards that were missing at Baia Mare.

The New York Times

These are precisely the features that were missing from iPhone 1.0, too.

The New York Times - Tech

Such data, that were missing to interpret astronomical observations of comets, are now available for further theoretical studies.

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry

Unfortunately, most of the standard cellphone features that were missing from the first iPhone are still missing.

The New York Times - Tech

She gave the Amish dust to mice that were missing genes needed for the innate immune response.

The New York Times - Health

Hearing this, Mr. Heichelbech decided to get some dolls and cars that were missing a part or two.

The New York Times

He also benefited from all the culture and diversity that were missing from my cloistered suburban upbringing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "that were missing" with stronger verbs to add impact to your writing. For example: replace "safety requirements that were missing" with "safety requirements that were neglected"

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with plural nouns. For example, instead of "the piece that was missing", use "the pieces that were missing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were missing" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun phrase by specifying which items or qualities are absent or have disappeared. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it commonly introduces information about what is lacking from a particular situation or object.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that were missing" is a versatile and commonly used relative clause that serves to specify absent or lost items or qualities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in the antecedent and avoid tense or number agreement errors. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "which were absent". By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "that were missing" into your writing with confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that had been lost

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the prior state of being lost.

which were absent

Replaces "missing" with the more formal "absent".

that were absent

Replaces "missing" with the more formal "absent".

that lacked

Focuses on the deficiency rather than the state of being lost.

which were lacking

Similar to "that lacked" but with a continuous aspect.

that were deficient

Highlights the inadequacy or incompleteness.

that were required

Indicates the need for something that is not present.

that were needed

Emphasizes the necessity of the missing items.

that were unavailable

Focuses on the inaccessibility of the items.

which had vanished

Implies a sudden or mysterious disappearance.

FAQs

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

You can use "that were missing" to describe items or qualities that are absent or have disappeared. For example, "The documents that were missing from the file caused significant delays."

What's a more formal alternative to "that were missing"?

A more formal alternative is "which were absent". This phrase is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

How does "that were missing" differ from "that was missing"?

"That were missing" is used with plural nouns, while "that was missing" is used with singular nouns. For instance, "the components that were missing" vs. "the component that was missing."

What can I say instead of "that were missing" in a scientific context?

In a scientific context, you might use phrases like "which were lacking" or "that were deficient" to emphasize the absence of specific elements or data.