lack vs shortage

[Catherine.choi]

Hi, master,

There is a shortage of student accommodation or there is lack of student accommodation? which one is correct?

Thank you in advance!

[Morteza]

Hi,

Shortage [countable noun] a situation in which there is not enough of something very basic and important that people need in order to live or work
shortage of:There is a shortage of nurses and doctors in this area.

Lack [transitive verb not in progressive] to not have something that you need, especially something that you need in order to do something:

Tom lacks confidence and needs a lot of encouragement.

They lived in appalling conditions, lacking even the most primitive sanitation.

So,I think they look the same,don't you?

Morteza

[Catherine.choi]

Thank you !

[Ivo]

Hi Catherine.choi,

Here are a few words concerning the matter in question.

shortage = absence, dearth, deficiency, deficit, failure, inadequacy, insufficiency, lack, paucity, poverty, scarcity, shortfall, sparseness, want

shortage (n) = the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required; aan acute insufficiency
lack (n) = the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

Regards,

Ivo