there are blanks

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "there are blanks" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the presence of blank spaces or missing information in a sentence or paragraph. It can also be used metaphorically to indicate a lack of knowledge or understanding. Example: "Please fill in the blanks with your personal information on the form." In this sentence, "there are blanks" refers to the empty spaces on the form that need to be completed. Example: "I don't know much about the topic, so there are still many blanks in my understanding." In this sentence, "there are blanks" is used metaphorically to suggest a lack of knowledge or understanding about the topic.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"There are blanks in the budget, the cynics and the pessimists said," Mr. Cuomo said after the vote.

The New York Times

He adds that, "One of the great things about what makes a Sondheim or a Gershwin or a Shakespeare great: there are blanks for the audience to fill; characters are made fuller by the play working on the audience and the audience working on the play".

The New York Times

There are blanks to fill in.

Huffington Post

There's still story there, but there are blanks you're expected to fill in.

Huffington Post

Sounds and things are burned into my psyche and will be there for the rest of my life probably, but it was such a direct influence and it was really amazing because I found that there are blanks that the human mind will fill, sonic blanks, with emotional experiences, and creates sonics that never even happened on particular records purely based upon a memory of an emotion.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In some areas, her relationships are thick and fulfilling, but in others, there are blank spaces.

The New York Times

There are blank canvases in the studio, but they are used simply to hide the paintings from view, leaving only one exposed — he likes to labor on a single work, shutting out the distraction of its fellows.

The New Yorker

The process on either platform is very template-driven -- lots of prefabricated topical pages, ranging from My Fashion Tips Page to My Babylon 5 Fan Page can be found here -- although there are blank slates to start with as well.

The New York Times - Tech

Furthermore, there are blank territories with unaligned troops that you can conquer.

TechCrunch

The fact that there are blank spots between each of these lines is a sign of how little we really know about the world's oceans".

TechCrunch

Yet in many wireless distributed storage networks1, there are often more nodes present and connected than those storing data, i.e., there are blank nodes in addition to the actual storage nodes.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there are blanks", ensure the context clearly indicates what needs to fill those blanks. Be specific about the expected information or action.

Common error

Avoid using "there are blanks" without providing adequate context. Readers might not understand what information is missing or how to provide it, leading to confusion and incomplete responses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there are blanks" functions primarily as an existential clause indicating the presence of empty or missing elements. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which classifies the phrase as grammatically correct. The examples show its use in contexts ranging from budget discussions to artistic interpretation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there are blanks" is a grammatically correct and relatively infrequent way to indicate the presence of missing information or empty spaces. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples show it is used across different contexts, primarily in news and media, science and wiki articles. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies what should fill those blanks. Related phrases include "there are gaps" and "there is missing information". While the phrase itself is straightforward, failing to provide adequate context is a common error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there are gaps

Replaces "blanks" with "gaps", emphasizing missing intervals or discontinuities.

there are omissions

Substitutes "blanks" with "omissions", highlighting intentionally left-out information.

there are spaces

Replaces "blanks" with "spaces", indicating empty areas or intervals.

there is missing information

Changes the structure to emphasize that information is absent.

there are lacunae

Uses the more formal term "lacunae" instead of "blanks", referring to gaps or missing parts.

there are unfilled areas

Highlights that certain areas remain incomplete or without content.

there are empty slots

Implies designated positions or spaces that have not been filled.

there are unaddressed issues

Shifts the focus to problems or matters that have not been resolved.

there are unexplored aspects

Emphasizes that certain aspects remain unknown or unexamined.

there are uncharted territories

Uses a metaphor to suggest regions or areas that are yet to be discovered or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "there are blanks" in a sentence?

Use "there are blanks" to indicate missing information or empty spaces that need to be filled. For example, "Please ensure that "there are no blanks" on the application form before submitting it".

What's a more formal way to say "there are blanks"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "there are omissions" or "there are lacunae". These alternatives convey a similar meaning but with a more sophisticated vocabulary.

Is it grammatically correct to say "there is blanks"?

No, the correct form is "there are blanks". The verb "are" is used because "blanks" is a plural noun.

What are some alternatives to "there are blanks" when discussing missing parts in a story?

When discussing missing parts in a narrative, consider using phrases like "there are gaps in the plot" or "there is missing information" to convey the same idea.