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Mind the gap: why "lack there of" lacks everything
Lloyd Cooper 13/10/2024, 00:48
What kind of error is it?
It is a grammatical error involving incorrect usage of the phrase to indicate absence or lack.
Why do people make this mistake?
People often make this error because they are trying to convey the idea of something being absent, but mistakenly believe "lack there of" is a single compound expression. The confusion arises from misinterpreting the correct phrase "lack thereof", where "thereof" means "of that."
What is correct?
The correct phrase is "lack thereof", which is used to refer to the absence of something previously mentioned.
Examples of correct usage
- She was concerned about the details, or lack thereof, in the report.
- The policy and its enforcement, or lack thereof, led to widespread confusion.
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