The words may lack charm to the eye, in print, but they have it to the ear.

Try as she might, the words lacked force.

But his words lacked heat, and she detected a hint of regret.

His own words lacked conviction, but, at that moment, Drizzt had to believe them.

She tried to swear at herself, but the unaccustomed words lacked conviction.

"I amnot one of your soldiers," she told him, although her words lacked conviction.

Rachel tried to sound reassuring, but her words lacked conviction.

If a word lacks a marker, then it is to be pronounced with a middle tone.

But somehow the words lacked the note of reverence that Blade had always heard in them before.

But diplomats, analysts and even some religious leaders concede that the words have lacked teeth.