a certain difficulty to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain difficulty to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when discussing challenges or obstacles, but the construction is awkward and not idiomatic. Example: "She faced a certain difficulty to complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

My diet was lacking in Iron, all the resources I had stored up before I went green had dried out, and the effects became quite apparent, with a certain difficulty to figure out what exactly was going on.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This brings certain difficulty to the autopilot design and stability analysis.

Defence Technology

At one moment, she is smoothly handling a video conference; at another, she is vomiting in agony in a ladies' room cubicle; and in another, she is having an electrifyingly tense conference in the street with some sinister guys about a certain difficulty that now needs to be handled in a certain way.

The Guardian - Film

Below a certain difficulty threshold, it may be more cost-effective to train 'at the bedside', with minimal possible risk to patients.

BMC Medical Education

For technical tasks that are below a certain difficulty threshold, it may be more cost-effective to train 'at the bedside'.

BMC Medical Education

Everyone has a certain difficulty in growing up, even my children, although I've been a good mother.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Everyone has a certain difficulty in growing up, even my children, although I've been a good mother," she told The Australian Financial Review in 2010.

The New York Times - Books

Hard though it may seem, there is a certain difficulty in accepting Reina's thesis that he had deserved a lot better than this.

Independent

And, pulling up her legs so that she is almost kneeling on the seat, she reaches awkwardly over the gearbox and with a certain difficulty puts her arms around him.

The New Yorker

In this context, we should point out that comprehensive study of Albo's writing on this issue reveals a certain difficulty in categorizing his exact position.

SEP

Though the system of the FPP has a certain difficulty, we could exchange information among researchers and experts who are studying SDGs and foresight.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a certain difficulty to" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "a particular difficulty with" or "a specific challenge in".

Common error

The phrase "a certain difficulty to" often stems from confusion about the correct preposition. Remember that difficulty is usually followed by "in" or "with", depending on the context. For example, "difficulty in understanding" or "difficulty with the task".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain difficulty to" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a specific challenge or impediment. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the preposition "to" is grammatically incorrect in this context. It should typically be "in" or "with".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a certain difficulty to" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers constructions like "a particular difficulty with" or "a specific challenge in". Although the intended meaning is generally clear, avoiding this phrase will improve the clarity and correctness of your writing. When expressing challenges, remember to use the appropriate prepositions "in" or "with" following the word "difficulty".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific difficulty in

Replaces "certain" with "specific" and corrects the preposition to "in" for grammatical accuracy.

a particular difficulty with

Substitutes "certain" with "particular" and uses the preposition "with" for a more idiomatic expression.

some difficulty in

Replaces "certain" with "some", offering a less precise but still understandable alternative with the correct preposition.

a challenge to

Replaces the entire phrase with "a challenge to", focusing on the obstacle aspect.

a problem with

Uses "a problem with" to denote an issue or complication related to something.

an obstacle to

Highlights the impeding nature of the difficulty by using "an obstacle to".

a hurdle to

Implies a challenge that needs to be overcome, similar to "an obstacle to".

a struggle with

Focuses on the effort required to deal with the difficulty.

a tough time with

An informal way to express having difficulty with something.

a complication in

Replaces "difficulty" with "complication", emphasizing the complexity of the issue.

FAQs

Is "a certain difficulty to" grammatically correct?

No, "a certain difficulty to" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct preposition to use is usually "in" or "with", depending on the context. For example, use "a certain difficulty in understanding" or "a certain difficulty with the task".

What are some alternatives to "a certain difficulty to"?

You can use alternatives such as "a specific difficulty in", "a particular difficulty with", or "a challenge to" depending on the context.

How can I use the word 'difficulty' correctly in a sentence?

Ensure that you use the correct preposition after "difficulty". Use "in" when referring to an activity (e.g., difficulty in learning) and "with" when referring to a specific item or task (e.g., difficulty with the instructions).

What's the difference between "a certain difficulty with" and "a certain difficulty in"?

"A certain difficulty with" is used when referring to problems concerning a particular object, person, or situation. For example, "a certain difficulty with the software". "A certain difficulty in" is used when referring to problems related to an activity. For example, "a certain difficulty in understanding the concept".