Encountered obstructions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Encountered obstructions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing difficulties or barriers faced in a process or situation. Example: "During the project, we encountered obstructions that delayed our progress significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In April, the month the rig exploded, workers encountered obstructions in the well.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The irony this time – or one of the ironies, at least – is that, according to local resident and blogger Chris Morris, when locals tried previously to use parts of the abandoned estate for vegetable growing and art shows, they encountered "obstruction" from the council.

Vice

The direction of axonal outgrowth was randomly chosen uniformly in the 3D space, and an axon grew in a straight line toward the given direction as growth direction of axons has a propensity to grow in approximately straight lines unless axons encounter obstructions or guidance cues (Sperry 1963 Easterr et al. 1985; Yamamoto et al. 2002).

Biological Cybernetics

I encountered no obstruction upon entry, however.

Vice

The construction workers were breaking ground for a new fire and police building when they encountered an obstruction in the dirt, The Denver Post reports.

Huffington Post

The Dutch colorectal cancer group reported 11% of the preoperatively irradiated patients encountered SB obstruction in a 5-year follow-up [ 37].

BioMed Research International

Problems commonly encountered include obstruction of the femoral vein by the catheter, insertion difficulties, safety concerns when cannulating the subclavian vein in coagulopathy, and catheter and circuit occlusion due to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Critical Care

As a result of obstructions encountered during pile driving, the span of the constructed arches actually varied from 15 to 34 feet (5 to 10 metres).

Encyclopedia Britannica

There were obstructions encountered in building the cofferdams, however, so that the arch spans eventually varied from 4.5 to 10.2 metres (15 to 34 feet).

Encyclopedia Britannica

In this experimental setup, all links are classified into four categories depending on the number of obstructions encountered.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

That prompted Mr. Reid to note that even after agreeing to take up the tax issue before anything else, he was encountering Republican obstruction.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about setbacks, consider the audience and context. "Encountered obstructions" is appropriate for formal reports and news articles, while more informal alternatives may suit casual communications.

Common error

While similar, "obstructions" often refers to physical blockages or impediments, while "obstacles" can be more abstract challenges. Ensure the term aligns with the specific context of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered obstructions" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the action of experiencing or coming across obstacles. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing physical and political difficulties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountered obstructions" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the experience of facing unexpected difficulties. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for written English and commonly appears in news articles, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. While similar to "faced obstacles", it implies a sense of surprise or unforeseen challenge. When using this phrase, ensure that "obstructions" accurately reflects physical or tangible impediments. Consider the context and audience, opting for more informal alternatives like "ran into difficulties" in casual settings. Overall, "encountered obstructions" is a reliable and versatile phrase for conveying factual information about experienced challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Faced obstacles

Replaces "encountered" with "faced", a more general term for dealing with challenges.

Met with hindrances

"Hindrances" is a formal synonym for obstructions, changing the tone slightly.

Ran into difficulties

Uses a more informal expression, focusing on the difficulties encountered.

Experienced impediments

"Impediments" is a synonym for obstructions, giving a more formal tone.

Came up against barriers

Emphasizes the presence of barriers that hinder progress.

Stumbled upon roadblocks

Implies unexpected discovery of obstacles.

Navigated challenges

Highlights the act of overcoming difficulties, rather than just encountering them.

Dealt with obstacles

Focuses on the active management of obstructions.

Overcame hurdles

Highlights the successful overcoming of obstructions.

Confronted setbacks

Emphasizes the negative impact of obstructions on progress.

FAQs

How can I use "encountered obstructions" in a sentence?

You can use "encountered obstructions" to describe facing unexpected difficulties or barriers during a process or project. For example: "During the well drilling, workers "encountered obstructions" in the well."

What's a more formal way to say "encountered obstructions"?

A more formal way to express this is "met with hindrances" or "experienced impediments". These alternatives provide a similar meaning with a slightly elevated tone.

What can I say instead of "encountered obstructions" in casual conversation?

In a more casual setting, you could say "ran into difficulties", "came up against barriers", or "stumbled upon roadblocks". These options are less formal and more conversational.

Is "encountered obstructions" the same as "faced obstacles"?

While similar, "faced obstacles" is a more general term. "Encountered obstructions" often implies the difficulties were unexpected or unanticipated, adding a layer of surprise or unforeseen challenge.