Chronic difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Chronic difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a persistent or long-lasting challenge or problem that someone is facing. Example: "She has been experiencing chronic difficulty in managing her time effectively, which has affected her productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"The government produces lazy people, then lazy parents produce lazy children," fumed Mr. Yurchenko, noting the chronic difficulty of finding Russian farmhands.

The New York Times

Although entrepreneurs will always complain first about the chronic difficulty of raising money, the smart ones know that talent is the more important battle to win, because money follows talent.

Harvard Business Review

Pauleta had made enough space to avoid Lilian Thuram before hitting the side-net after 53 minutes, but Portugal's chronic difficulty in finding players at the centre of attack was being illustrated again.

The Guardian - Sport

They have chronic difficulty in focusing on many important tasks of daily life, yet they can focus very well on a few tasks that hold strong personal interest for them.

The New York Times

And that's a lot of problems, observes the author, Frank Hilton, including Baudelaire's "inability to manage his financial affairs, his unsatisfactory relationships, his bad health, his guignon" -- the demonic misfortune he believed plagued him -- and, most important, his "chronic difficulty in getting down to any prolonged creative work".

The New York Times - Books

The second crucial point in Dr. Brown's book is that many people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appear to have chronic difficulty with the brain's executive functions, a term that encompasses short-term memory, planning and staying focused on a task without being distracted by emotional impulses.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But here the craft of paradigm-building has chronic difficulties.

The Guardian - Books

Airbus, a consortium of businesses owned by European Aeronautic Defense and Space, suffered chronic difficulties in delivering its A380 superjumbo jet — it can hold more than 800 passengers — to customers.

The New York Times

A subset of children with high anisometropia or isoametropia and neurobehavioral disorders have chronic difficulties with spectacle or contact lens wear.

American Journal of Ophthalmology

Sex, life events, chronic difficulties and to a certain extent age were found to be risk factors for depression in the studied community.

Journal of Affective Disorders

The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center tells us: "In Charleston, where inconveniences soon gave way to chronic difficulties and privations, the war prompted suffering, tenacity, ingenuity and great personal bravery".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify the area or activity in which the "chronic difficulty" occurs. For example, "chronic difficulty in focusing" or "chronic difficulty with time management".

Common error

Avoid using "chronic difficulty" to describe minor or temporary inconveniences. This phrase should be reserved for significant, persistent challenges. Replacing it with words like "occasional problem" is preferrable in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chronic difficulty" functions as a descriptor indicating a persistent or recurring problem. As Ludwig AI points out, it implies that the difficulty is not temporary but rather a long-standing issue. It acts as a noun phrase, often followed by a prepositional phrase specifying the area of difficulty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chronic difficulty" is a phrase used to describe a long-lasting or recurring problem. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct and it is usable in written English. While not extremely frequent, it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and business, with a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates a persistent issue and, as suggested in the Writing Guidance, specify the area of difficulty for greater clarity. Alternatives like "persistent challenge" or "ongoing struggle" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase "chronic difficulty" is best reserved for significant, continuing challenges rather than temporary setbacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Persistent challenge

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the difficulty.

Ongoing struggle

Highlights the effort required to overcome the difficulty.

Recurring problem

Focuses on the repeated occurrence of the issue.

Long-standing issue

Indicates that the difficulty has existed for a considerable time.

Inveterate trouble

Suggests a deeply rooted and persistent difficulty.

Habitual difficulty

Highlights the habitual nature of the difficulty.

Perennial problem

Focuses on the lasting nature of the issue, recurring year after year.

Incurable difficulty

Highlights that the difficulty may be impossible to solve.

Deep-seated issue

Indicates the problem is firmly established and difficult to change.

Entrenched difficulty

Emphasizes the firm establishment of the problem and resistance to change.

FAQs

How can I use "chronic difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "chronic difficulty" to describe a long-lasting or recurring problem. For example, "The company faced chronic difficulty in maintaining consistent product quality" or "She experiences chronic difficulty sleeping due to stress".

What are some alternatives to "chronic difficulty"?

Alternatives to "chronic difficulty" include "persistent challenge", "ongoing struggle", or "recurring problem". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "chronic difficulty" a formal or informal expression?

"Chronic difficulty" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the overall tone of your writing. It is commonly used in news reports, academic papers, and business documents.

What's the difference between "chronic difficulty" and "acute difficulty"?

"Chronic difficulty" refers to a long-lasting or recurring problem, while "acute difficulty" describes a sudden or short-term problem. For example, "chronic difficulty breathing" suggests a long-term respiratory issue, while "acute difficulty breathing" indicates a sudden onset of breathing problems.