without that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the absence of something that is necessary or important in a given context. Example: "I wouldn't have succeeded in the project without that crucial piece of information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nothing will happen without that.

The Economist

Ms. Heinz could have lived without that.

The New York Times

But Widdicombe prospers without that.

The Guardian

"We can survive without that.

The Guardian - Sport

Not without that ring".

Huffington Post

The dish tastes good even without that.

WikiHow

Without that he's nothing.

Independent

Without that, there's nothing".

Independent

Without that, it's illegitimate.

The New York Times

Without that, things won't work".

The New York Times - Arts

Without that moment, it's O.K".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without that", ensure that the context clearly identifies what "that" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the sentence is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "without that" when the reference is ambiguous or not immediately clear from the surrounding text. Always make sure the reader knows exactly what "that" is referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without that" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a clause or sentence to indicate a condition or requirement. It introduces the absence of something as a necessary condition for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI points out, its presence is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without that" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate a necessary condition or dependency. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to ensure the reference of "that" is clear to avoid ambiguity. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and has several suitable alternatives, such as "lacking that" or "absent that". Although it is not very common, "without that" serves as a concise way to express conditionality in both written and spoken language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without it

A more general form replacing "that" with "it", applicable when the reference is clear.

lacking that

Replaces "without" with "lacking", emphasizing the absence of something.

absent that

Uses "absent" to convey the condition of something not being present.

failing that

Indicates what will happen if the condition is not met.

in its absence

Emphasizes the state of something not being there.

barring that

Implies an exception or exclusion if the condition is not met.

in the absence of that

More formal and explicit version of the original phrase.

short of that

Suggests a deficiency or lack of something.

if that is not so

Directly states the condition in a simple manner.

if that were not the case

Expresses the condition in a more verbose and explanatory way.

FAQs

How can I use "without that" in a sentence?

Use "without that" to indicate that something is necessary for a particular outcome or situation. For example, "The project cannot succeed without that funding".

What's a simpler way to say "without that"?

You can use simpler alternatives such as "without it" if the context is clear, or "lacking that" for a slightly more formal tone.

Is it better to use "without that" or "without it"?

It depends on the context. "Without that" is useful when you want to emphasize a specific condition or requirement previously mentioned. "Without it" is more general and suitable when the reference is already well-established.

Can "without that" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, "without that" can be used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a conditional clause. For example, "Without that support, the team would have failed."