lack vs substance

lack

noun
  • A deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want. 

verb
  • To be short (of or for something). 

  • To be without, not to have, to need, to require. 

substance

noun
  • The essential part of anything; the most vital part. 

  • Physical matter; material. 

  • Material possessions; estate; property; resources. 

  • Hypostasis. 

  • Drugs (illegal narcotics) 

  • Substantiality; solidity; firmness. 

  • A form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. 

verb
  • To give substance to; to make real or substantial. 

How often have the words lack and substance occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )