Devoid Of: Standard Pattern
Devoid Of: Standard Pattern records the directly documented Cambridge construction and keeps the guidance bounded to the evidenced complement pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.
Cambridge documents “devoid of” for completely lacking or being without something.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| something completely lacks a quality, feature, or expected element | be devoid of + noun / noun phrase | Use the documented “of” complement. |
| the sentence simply states absence without this adjective | lack / be without | A different construction may be clearer if “devoid” is unnecessary. |
| “devoid” appears before a noun without an “of” complement | devoid + noun only where an established adjectival use is intended | Do not force the “of” pattern into every syntactic position. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you using “devoid” to say that something completely lacks the following thing or quality?
If yes: Use “devoid of …”.
If no: If you are using another structure for absence, choose the construction that fits that sentence rather than adding “of” mechanically.
Caveat: Choose by the documented meaning or construction; a different pattern may be valid in a different sentence structure, region, or register.
Examples
The draft was devoid of supporting examples.
The “of” phrase names what the draft lacks.
The room felt devoid of warmth.
The adjective takes “of” before the missing quality.
The notice lacked a date.
A different absence construction can be clearer when “devoid” is not needed.
Further guidance
Construction
Cambridge documents be devoid of something for completely lacking or being without something necessary, expected, or usual.
Style Boundary
This page records the supported devoid-of construction and keeps the guidance limited to that established phrase.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- devoid — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge dictionary evidence for the adjective construction devoid of something.