a cluster of difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cluster of difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where multiple challenges or problems are occurring simultaneously. Example: "The project faced a cluster of difficulties, including budget constraints, staffing issues, and tight deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of the objections canvassed there raises a cluster of difficulties.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dementia is a brain function syndrome characterized by a cluster of symptoms and signs manifested by difficulties in memory, disturbances in language, psychological and psychiatric changes, and impairments in activities of daily living.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Dementia is a clinical syndrome that characterizes many different etiologies, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, vascular, and infectious diseases defined by a cluster of symptoms and signs manifested by difficulties in memory, disturbances in language, psychological and psychiatric alterations, and impairments in daily living activities.

BMC Systems Biology

Tension related to a cluster of mainly physical symptoms associated with social difficulties [ 3- 5, 23- 25].

BMC Psychiatry

Setting off from the town of Konye-Urgench, there was no difficulty getting transport to Darvaza; a cluster of hopeful cab drivers surrounded us, proclaiming the virtues of their respective vehicles.

Vice

MapReduce simplifies many of the difficulties encountered in parallelizing data management operations across a cluster of individual machines, thus becoming a simple model for distributed computing.

Journal of Big Data

There was some difficulty in identifying a specific subtype to a cluster of 12 sequences, 8 from humans and 4 from swine.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Setting off from the town of Konye-Urgench, there was no difficulty getting transport to Darvaza about 165 miles away; a cluster of hopeful cab drivers surrounded us, proclaiming the virtues of their respective vehicles.

Vice

He tests these cases against a cluster of 12 characteristics that he argues are collectively definitive of art and finds that the difficulties stem from conflicts or tensions among these characteristics.

The New York Times - Books

I breast-stroked with a touch of difficulty given his added weight but made it, aware that I was being watched by a cluster of Euro-babes on the other raft.

Huffington Post

A cluster of pathologies?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a cluster of difficulties", be specific about the nature of the difficulties to provide clarity and context for your audience. For example, "The project encountered a cluster of difficulties related to funding, resource allocation, and communication breakdowns."

Common error

While acceptable, "a cluster of difficulties" can sound less formal than alternatives like "a series of challenges" or "a complex set of issues". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cluster of difficulties" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a collection of challenges or problems that are experienced together. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cluster of difficulties" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe multiple interconnected problems. Though slightly informal, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and business. While rare in frequency, the phrase effectively conveys the complexity of a situation. When using it, consider specifying the nature of the difficulties to enhance clarity. More formal alternatives, such as "a series of challenges", may be preferred in academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a series of problems

Replaces "cluster" with "series", emphasizing a sequential arrangement of problems.

a group of challenges

Substitutes "difficulties" with "challenges", conveying a sense of demanding tasks.

a collection of issues

Uses "collection" and "issues" to highlight a set of unresolved matters.

a multitude of problems

Emphasizes a large number of problems using "multitude".

a host of difficulties

Replaces "cluster" with "host", implying a large number of difficulties.

a string of setbacks

Focuses on negative events that impede progress, using "setbacks".

an array of complications

Highlights the complex nature of the problems with "complications".

a confluence of challenges

Suggests that challenges meet and intensify, using "confluence".

a tangle of problems

Emphasizes interconnected and complex nature of issues with "tangle".

a wave of complications

Uses "wave" to indicate a sudden and overwhelming series of complications.

FAQs

How can I use "a cluster of difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "a cluster of difficulties" to describe a situation where multiple problems or challenges occur simultaneously. For example: "The team faced "a cluster of difficulties" during the project's initial phase."

What are some alternatives to saying "a cluster of difficulties"?

Some alternatives include "a series of problems", "a group of challenges", or "a collection of issues", depending on the specific context.

Is "a cluster of difficulties" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "a cluster of difficulties" might be perceived as slightly informal in some academic contexts. Consider using a more formal alternative like "a complex set of issues" or "a series of challenges".

What's the difference between "a cluster of difficulties" and "a range of difficulties"?

"A cluster of difficulties" implies that the problems are grouped together, possibly related. "A range of difficulties" suggests a variety of different types of problems, whether or not they are directly connected.