Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

I'm having trouble
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I'm having trouble breathing, Doctor".

News & Media

The New Yorker

"I'm having trouble talking".

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

I'm having trouble concentrating".

News & Media

The New York Times

"I'm having trouble.

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm having trouble at work.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I'm having trouble grasping this," she said.

News & Media

The New York Times - Arts

I'm having trouble locating my original lease.

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm having trouble with the word "gone".

News & Media

The New Yorker

I'm having trouble with my friend's behavior.

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm having trouble coming up with jokes.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"I'm having trouble reading the greens".

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the preposition "with" when referring to a specific object or person, like "I'm having trouble with my printer" or "I'm having trouble with the new regulations".

Common error

Do not follow the phrase directly with a to-infinitive. Saying "I'm having trouble to understand" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use the gerund: "I'm having trouble understanding".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

"I'm having trouble" functions as a present continuous declarative clause used to express a current state of difficulty or an ongoing problem. As observed in the numerous examples from Ludwig, it serves as an introductory frame that specifies the nature of an obstacle, whether physical, technical or social.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Lifestyle & Health

20%

Tech & Software Support

10%

Less common in

Academic Research

Legal Documents

Scientific Papers

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I'm having trouble" is a versatile and extremely common expression in the English language. According to data from Ludwig, it is heavily favored in news media to convey immediate problems, ranging from health issues like "breathing" to technical ones like "internet connections". Its grammatical construction is rigid: it must be followed by a gerund or the preposition "with". While it is widely accepted in most contexts, writers seeking a more formal tone may opt for "<a href="/s/I+am+experiencing+difficulties" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I am experiencing difficulties". Overall, it remains a clear and direct way to communicate obstacles across all levels of spoken and written English.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am experiencing difficulties

Significantly more formal, suitable for professional reports or technical support.

I am struggling with

Emphasizes the personal effort and the persistence of the obstacle.

I'm having a hard time

More idiomatic and conversational, often used to express emotional or chronic stress.

I am encountering problems

Suggests meeting unexpected obstacles during a process.

I'm finding it difficult

Focuses on the subjective perception of the task's complexity.

I am facing issues

Common in business and IT environments to describe systemic or technical hurdles.

I'm having a bit of a challenge

A polite understatement often used to soften the impact of a problem.

I can't seem to

Focuses on the frustration of repetitive unsuccessful attempts.

I'm stuck on

Informal way to say one cannot progress past a specific point.

I'm having some complications

Used when a situation has become more complex than originally anticipated.

FAQs

How to use "I'm having trouble" in a sentence?

You can use it to report an issue by following it with a gerund (e.g., "I'm having trouble breathing") or a noun phrase starting with "with" (e.g., "I'm having trouble with the wifi").

What can I say instead of "I'm having trouble"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/I'm+experiencing+difficulties" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I'm experiencing difficulties", "<a href="/s/I'm+struggling+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I'm struggling with", or "<a href="/s/I'm+finding+it+difficult" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I'm finding it difficult" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I'm having trouble to" or "I'm having trouble with"?

The phrase "<a href="/s/I'm+having+trouble+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I'm having trouble with" is correct when followed by a noun. Following the phrase with a "to" infinitive (like "to do") is incorrect; you should use a gerund (like "doing") instead.

Is "I'm having trouble" formal enough for an email?

It is generally considered neutral. For a very formal business email, you might prefer "<a href="/s/I+am+experiencing+difficulties" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I am experiencing difficulties" or "<a href="/s/I+am+having+difficulty" target="_blank" rel="alternative">I am having difficulty".

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

I'm having troubleGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

I'm having trouble
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples