Take the 2-minute tour ×

I have come across the below sentence but it doesn't quite sound right.

Absent additional configuration, permits will be distributed at a fixed rate.

Is the first part of the sentence correct? If not, then what is a good way of phrasing it?

share|improve this question

closed as general reference by MετάEd, onomatomaniak, Matt Эллен, tchrist, Hellion Apr 17 '13 at 15:11


Using absent like that seems common in American English, although it does not occur in standard British English. What do you intend it to mean? –  Andrew Leach Apr 17 '13 at 10:54
Absent here just means in the absence of, without. In other words, if additional configuration does not occur, permits will be distributed at a fixed rate. –  onomatomaniak Apr 17 '13 at 10:59
@onomatomaniak Do you mean it really means, or it is the intention of the writer to mean? Is the structure grammatical and popular? I think in the absence of is what is required. –  Kris Apr 17 '13 at 11:15
@Kris What it really and truly means. See the prepositional definition of the word: merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absent –  onomatomaniak Apr 17 '13 at 11:26
@Kris it really means that. It is synonymous with without. –  Matt Эллен Apr 17 '13 at 11:28

1 Answer 1

up vote 4 down vote accepted

The word absent here functions as a preposition. This is not very common in British English but it appears to be a lot more common in American English.

absent | formal, North American

without: employees could not be fired absent other evidence.

share|improve this answer
I disagree that it is uncommon. It strikes me as a standard, perfectly acceptable usage in American English. –  onomatomaniak Apr 17 '13 at 11:27
@A As much as it is Uncommon, is it correct? –  artfullyContrived Apr 17 '13 at 11:29
@onomatomaniak By not very common I'm suggesting that it is less common in British English. Sorry. I should have clarified that. –  0a -archy Apr 17 '13 at 12:07
@artfullyContrived Yes, it is correct. –  0a -archy Apr 17 '13 at 12:08
