Lack vs. Lack of
How to use "lack" and "lack of" correctlyThis is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.
Lack should only be followed by of when it is acting as a noun. As a verb or participle, it takes an object and thus does not need a preposition:
his performance is lack of sophistication
his performance lacks of sophistication
his performance lacks sophistication
a performance lacking sophistication
a performance suffering from a lack of sophistication
Related Resources
Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English
List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list
Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage
List of Common Errors in English Usage: PDF version
© 2006, 2008, and 2019 C. Brantley Collins, Jr.