utterly missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly missing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to emphasize a point, such as: "I was utterly missing from the meeting, and have no idea what happened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Shakin' All Over and Please Don't Touch - both later covered by the Who and Motörhead/Girlschool respectively - have a sleaziness utterly missing from anythng by Kidd's Britrock rivals.

The Guardian - Music

"If we are worrying about bicycle helmets, rather than how to stop people from hitting cyclists with cars and trucks in the first place, then we are utterly missing the point," Dr. Walker says.

The New York Times

The presentation of words on the page, the structure, as well as the marriage of sounds which binds the whole thing together, is so crucial, and utterly missing from, say, a tweet.

The Guardian

The idea that "Catcher" is a closet combat novel is provocative and not necessarily dismissible, but it needs to be argued with a sense of literary nuance, a sense of literature as something other than a message-delivery system, that is utterly missing here.

The New York Times

"The common-sense understanding of what you can do with objects is utterly missing, and we end up with robots who will spend thousands of hours trying to eat the table".

TechCrunch

Totally, completely, utterly missing the point that perhaps if America tried a little Obamacare, they wouldn't find it so objectionable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And in this way, they have utterly missed the modern ethos of career adventurism.

The New York Times - Magazine

He has already promised a post-series parade for both teams, which utterly misses the emotional essence of the parade.

The New York Times

But it utterly missed the dismal state Iraq was in and the strength of the insurgency that Americans would face after the fall of Baghdad.

The New York Times

Although some dishes are overwrought, with an ingredient or two too many, and a few utterly miss their mark, more are executed with finesse and with a wicked sense of indulgence.

The New York Times - Food

In "Tinker Creek," she wrote, "I walk out; I see some event that would otherwise be utterly missed and lost, or something sees me, some enormous power that brushes me with its clean wing, and I resound like a beaten bell".

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly missing" to emphasize a significant absence or lack. This phrase is most effective when conveying a strong sense of deficiency or when highlighting something essential that is not present.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly missing" in situations where a simpler term like "missing" or "absent" would suffice. Overusing it can diminish its impact. Reserve it for cases where you want to strongly emphasize the absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly missing" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. As shown by Ludwig, this intensifies the sense of absence or lack, highlighting that something is not just missing, but fundamentally so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly missing" is an adjectival phrase used to emphasize the absence of something. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media, and science. While alternatives like "completely absent" and "entirely lacking" exist, "utterly missing" carries a stronger tone of surprise or concern. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain its impact and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely absent

Highlights total absence rather than a lack.

entirely lacking

Emphasizes a complete deficiency.

totally devoid

Indicates a complete emptiness or absence.

wholly deficient

Stresses a significant inadequacy.

absolutely nonexistent

Focuses on the nonexistence of something.

patently absent

Emphasizes that absence is easily visible.

noticeably absent

Highlights that the absence is easily noticeable.

conspicuously absent

Highlights that absence is very easy to notice, maybe unexpected.

plainly missing

Highlights that absence is clear and obvious.

clearly absent

Highlights that the absence is easy to ascertain.

FAQs

How can I use "utterly missing" in a sentence?

Use "utterly missing" to emphasize the complete absence of something. For example, "The crucial evidence was "utterly missing" from the report."

What's the difference between "utterly missing" and "completely missing"?

"Utterly missing" emphasizes a significant or surprising absence, while "completely missing" simply states that something is entirely not there. The former has a stronger emotional or emphatic tone. They both can be used as synonyms.

What can I say instead of "utterly missing"?

You can use alternatives like "completely absent", "entirely lacking", or "totally devoid" depending on the context.

Is "utterly missing" formal or informal?

"Utterly missing" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, because it emphasizes the idea, it is more common in contexts where strong language is needed.