the absence of tools

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the absence of tools" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where tools are not available or present, often in contexts related to work, construction, or problem-solving. Example: "The project was delayed due to the absence of tools necessary for the construction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In the absence of tools that really work, they feel frustrated and angry and raise their voice.

The New York Times

However, detailed understanding of fungal foraging behaviour has been hampered by the absence of tools to quantify resource allocation and growth accurately and non-invasively.

Fungal Genetics and Biology

However, studying and targeting this immune signaling pathway has been challenging due to the absence of tools for high-throughput analysis.

Cell Chemical Biology

A major impediment to the study of neuroimmune signaling in healthy and disease states is the absence of tools for in vivo detection of cytokine release in the brain.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Evaluation of self-management interventions is hampered by the absence of tools to assess quality of goals and action plans.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Much information about disease progression and signs of improvement is lacking in the absence of tools used to monitor disease severity.

Archives of Dermatological Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

A wide range of miniaturized products is being fabricated by high-yield, cost-effective and high-resolution rapid prototyping (RP) techniques in which the product design and development cycle has been accelerated in the absence of tooling or apparatus.

Applied Surface Science

Higher productivity is possible in laser processing through a reduction in processing time because of the low inertia of laser processing; a reduction in the use of materials; the use of cheaper materials; a reduction in labor costs; a reduction in equipment maintenance costs because of the absence of tool wear; the high equipment availability time; and a reduction in energy costs.

Laser Processing of Engineering Materials Principles, Procedure and Industrial Application

In the absence of available tools, we therefore aimed to develop a tool that could enable a rapid measurement of motivation at baseline and at subsequent points during the 18-month intervention study.

Human Resources for Health

In the absence of standard tools for validating studies that measure non-comparative outcomes, a simple and transparent risk of bias assessment tool was developed (for details see Text S1), based on existing validation tools for studies on comparative outcomes [22].

Plosone

In the absence of such tools of precision, the wise course would be to merge the phase and category systems, putting the World Health Organization and national governments in harmony.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the absence of tools", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific task or process is hindered by this lack. Be specific about the impact of this absence.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "the absence of tools" without explaining the concrete consequences. Instead, detail how this absence affects efficiency, accuracy, or feasibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the absence of tools" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a state of lacking the necessary instruments or resources for a particular task or operation. The Ludwig examples clarify the contexts in which it is commonly deployed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the absence of tools" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a situation where necessary instruments or resources are lacking. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts to explain impediments or challenges. While "lack of tools" is a more common alternative, "the absence of tools" provides a slightly more formal option. When using this phrase, ensure you clarify the specific impact of this lack on the task or process at hand. Avoid overgeneralizing; detail the concrete consequences for a more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of tools

Replaces "absence" with the more common synonym "lack".

unavailability of tools

Emphasizes that the tools are not accessible or obtainable.

lack of instruments

Substitutes "tools" with the more formal "instruments".

paucity of tools

Uses "paucity" to indicate a scarcity or smallness of supply.

dearth of tools

Similar to "paucity", indicating a deficiency or lack.

nonexistence of tools

Highlights that the tools do not exist.

absence of equipment

Replaces "tools" with "equipment" for a broader range of implements.

insufficiency of tools

Focuses on the inadequacy of the available tools.

without the necessary tools

Expresses the absence in terms of a lack of requirement fulfillment.

want of tools

Uses the archaic term "want" to denote a lack.

FAQs

How can I use "the absence of tools" in a sentence?

You can use "the absence of tools" to describe situations where a task is difficult or impossible due to a lack of necessary equipment. For example, "The experiment failed due to the absence of tools for precise measurement."

What are some alternatives to saying "the absence of tools"?

Alternatives include "lack of tools", "unavailability of tools", or "dearth of tools", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "lack of tools" or "the absence of tools"?

"Lack of tools" is generally more common and direct. "The absence of tools" is slightly more formal but carries the same basic meaning.

What does it imply when someone mentions "the absence of tools"?

It typically implies that progress is impeded or that a task cannot be completed effectively due to a deficiency in the necessary resources or instruments.