a challenging era

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a challenging era" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a period of time characterized by difficulties or obstacles, often in a historical, social, or personal context. Example: "The world is currently facing a challenging era marked by economic uncertainty and social unrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The book, "The Future of Conservation in America: A Chart for Rough Water," co-authored by former National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, is a "candid, passionate, and ultimately hopeful book" for a challenging era in conservation.

Yale University

A press officer, reacting to the loss of 80 jobs, conceded that the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels were "a factor in what is a challenging era for the whole of the travel industry", and it does occur to me that a notice flashing up every few minutes in the booking office might be rephrased.

The Guardian - Opinion

He'll be leading EA into a challenging era.

TechCrunch

This is a challenging era in higher education; a growing focus on assessment, accountability, student learning and student success is underway.

International Journal of STEM Education

He served on the National Executive Committee of the university's PACE (Plan of Action for a Challenging Era) Campaign in the early 1960s, and chaired the New York Major Gift Committee.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They are, in fact, pointers to a devastatingly challenging era where, increasingly, on all debates on development versus conservation we stand to lose more than we gain, if we think only about our needs.

Huffington Post

This will require careful attention to both drug safety and cost-effectiveness of established versus emerging therapies, relative to quantifiable patient-centered outcomes, in a financially challenging era.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

South Africa now head for Auckland for a semi-final against New Zealand or West Indies Sri Lankaafterter months on the road, finally go home to a new and challenging era.

The Guardian - Sport

Willard survived a challenging Depression Era childhood, from which he emerged as the provider for his family, a role he carried for the rest of his life.

Los Angeles Times

"We are also supporting local artists and arts organizations, who often struggle to create art in San Francisco in a challenging economic era". Chiu, who pushed a similar idea on the campaign trail during his ultimately unsuccessful mayoral run, initially hoped to have the bill expand the fee to all new developments over 75,000 across the entire city.

HuffPost

Books like 1984 or Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me, on the other hand, have been eagerly pushed by tastemakers (and publications like HuffPost) looking to prove how literature can aid in our understanding of a challenging political era.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a challenging era" to frame discussions about overcoming obstacles and adapting to change in specific fields or time periods. For example, "a challenging era for conservation" or "a challenging era for small businesses".

Common error

Avoid using "a challenging era" as a generic placeholder for any difficult time. Be specific about the challenges and their impact to maintain clarity and impact. Instead of just saying "a challenging era", elaborate on what makes the era challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a challenging era" functions as a noun phrase, where "challenging" is an adjective modifying the noun "era". This noun phrase typically acts as a subject complement or an appositive, providing further description or characterization. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is used to describe periods marked by difficulty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a challenging era" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a period marked by significant difficulties and changes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, it is important to be specific about the nature of the challenges and their impact, avoiding overuse as a generic cliché. Alternatives such as "a difficult period" or "a time of adversity" can provide nuanced variations. Overall, the phrase serves as an effective way to frame discussions about overcoming obstacles and adapting to change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult period

Replaces "challenging" with a more straightforward synonym, focusing on the difficulty of the time.

a tough time

Uses a more informal synonym for "challenging", indicating a period of hardship.

an era of adversity

Shifts the focus to the adversity faced during the era.

a period of hardship

Highlights the hardships experienced during the specified time.

testing times

Emphasizes the testing nature of the era.

a watershed moment

Indicates a turning point involving significant challenges.

a critical juncture

Focuses on the critical nature of the era as a point of decision.

a demanding age

Replaces "era" with "age" and "challenging" with "demanding", maintaining a similar meaning.

a trying period

Uses "trying" to describe the difficult nature of the period.

a time of upheaval

Highlights the disruptive and turbulent nature of the era.

FAQs

How can I use "a challenging era" in a sentence?

You can use "a challenging era" to describe a period marked by significant difficulties and changes, such as "This is "a challenging era for education"" or "We are living in "a challenging economic era"".

What are some alternatives to "a challenging era"?

Alternatives include "a difficult period", "a tough time", or "a time of adversity". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a challenging era" in formal writing?

Yes, "a challenging era" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing historical or significant periods. However, ensure that the context supports the claim and is not overly dramatic. Always aim to describe why is the era challenging.

What makes an era "challenging"?

An era can be considered "challenging" due to various factors such as economic instability, political upheaval, social changes, or technological advancements. It often implies that individuals and institutions must adapt to overcome significant obstacles.