“Lack there of” or “lack thereof”: which is correct?
lack thereof
The short answer
The correct phrase is lack thereof, which is used to refer to the absence of something previously mentioned.
Why people get it wrong
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 kind of mistake it is
It is a grammatical error involving incorrect usage of the phrase to indicate absence or lack.
Examples with lack thereof
- She was concerned about the details, or lack thereof, in the report.
- The policy and its enforcement, or lack thereof, led to widespread confusion.
Quick check
She was concerned about the details, or , in the report.
The correct phrase is lack thereof, which is used to refer to the absence of something previously mentioned.
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