well short

USAGE SUMMARY

"well short" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not as long, wide, tall, or deep as it should be or is expected. For example: "Dave's arms were well short of the length needed to reach the top shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Supply falls well short.

The Economist

Others rolled up well short.

The New York Times

He leaves it well short.

The Guardian - Sport

His kick fell well short.

The New York Times - Sports

We are well short of established strikers.

The Guardian - Sport

But Mr. Tiahrt's challenge fell well short.

The New York Times

Still, that falls well short of demand.

The Guardian

Eta's offertoday falls well short of that.

The Guardian

But the shot was well short.

The New York Times - Sports

Bryant's first shot was well short.

The New York Times - Sports

This year's outbreak falls well short of previous epidemics.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "well short", ensure the context clearly defines what standard or goal is not being met. For example, "The funding fell well short of the amount needed to complete the project."

Common error

Avoid using "well short" when directly comparing two items unless the intended standard is explicit. It's better to say "This year's sales are well short of last year's" than to simply say "This is well short" without indicating what it's short of.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well short" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "short". It describes the extent to which something fails to meet a specific requirement, expectation, or standard. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is used to show how much something is lacking.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "well short" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something falls considerably below a specified standard or expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to emphasize the degree to which something is lacking. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as sports contexts, but can be applied more broadly as needed. Remember to clearly define the benchmark against which something is "well short" to avoid ambiguity. By considering related phrases and common errors, you can use "well short" effectively to convey the extent of a deficiency or inadequacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

falling short

Highlights the act of not reaching a required level or expectation.

not quite there

Suggests progress has been made but the final goal has not been reached.

far from

Indicates a greater distance from the desired outcome or target.

nowhere near

Emphasizes that something is significantly distant from a particular point or achievement.

not close to

Emphasizes the lack of proximity to a goal or standard.

not up to par

Implies a failure to meet a required standard of quality or performance.

a long way off

Indicates that something is still far from being achieved or realized.

inadequate

Focuses on the insufficiency of something for a specific purpose.

insufficient

Similar to "inadequate" but can imply a more quantifiable shortage.

deficient

Stresses a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

FAQs

How can I use "well short" in a sentence?

You can use "well short" to indicate that something is not as long, wide, tall, or deep as it should be, or that it doesn't reach a certain standard or expectation. For example, "The company's profits were "falling short" of their projected goals."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "well short"?

Some alternatives to "well short" include "far from", "not close to", "falling short", or "inadequate", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "well short of"?

Yes, "well short of" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that something does not reach a particular level or standard. For example, "The team's performance was "well short of" what was expected".

What's the difference between "well short" and "slightly short"?

"Well short" indicates a significant difference or deficiency, while "slightly short" suggests a minor difference. For example, "The budget was "well short" of what was needed," implies a considerable gap, whereas "The measurement was "slightly short"" indicates a small discrepancy.