a collective difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a collective difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a challenge or problem that is shared by a group of people or a community. Example: "The pandemic has created a collective difficulty that we must address together as a society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is a tragedy of the commons, in which sensible individual decisions have led to a collective difficulty.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I'm sympathetic to some of Keller's larger points, especially those about our collective difficulty with facing dying, our cultural habit of pursuing treatment past the rational point of stopping, and the importance of medical centers that offer alternatives to highly interventional care.

The New Yorker

But more important, books like "Totem and Taboo" and "Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego" illuminate our collective difficulties with power and particularly with the two scourges of today's world, fundamentalist religion and tyrannical politics.

The New York Times

Perhaps because they are older and more cynical, European societies seem to bask in a "collective moroseness" from which they have difficulty emerging.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There has been a difficulty in creating a collective of owners," said Nick Maclean of the real estate firm CB Richard Ellis in Dubai.

The New York Times

The literature points to the difficulty of organising LHWs as a collective group in South Africa [ 23], and during the course of the interviews there was no indication of the existence of an organised body LHW of representatives.

Health Research Policy and Systems

"The game has a collective responsibility towards those hit by the Bulls' financial difficulties," Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said.

BBC

For those readers who are interested in the conceptual and methodological difficulties one can encounter when creating a collective agent, we included an additional file that introduces the so-called 'discursive dilemma'.

BMC Medical Ethics

The report suggests that following decades of difficulties, Ethiopian children have become part of a collective social transformation in the country.

Unicef

In this way, qualitative information will be obtained from a collective and group vision that only emerges from individual interviews with some difficulty [ 23- 25].

BMC Psychiatry

In addition to training-related difficulties, it is clear that there is a lack of leadership from a collective actor capable of providing systemic objectives for the definition of policies for training, the labour market, and regulatory issues.

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a collective difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates which group is experiencing the difficulty. Specify the group to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "collective" simply as a sophisticated synonym for "group" or "shared". Ensure that the difficulty genuinely arises from the group dynamic or affects the group as a whole.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collective difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, where "collective" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "difficulty". It identifies a problem or challenge that is experienced by a group or collective entity, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a collective difficulty" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a shared challenge faced by a group. While Ludwig identifies it as usable in written English, its relatively low frequency suggests that alternative phrases like "a shared challenge" or "a common problem" may be more common. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, but it's crucial to specify the group experiencing the difficulty for clarity. Ludwig also highlights the importance of ensuring the challenge genuinely arises from the group dynamic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collective adversity

Concise term focusing on hardship encountered by a group.

a shared challenge

Focuses on the shared nature of the challenge, emphasizing the common experience.

a common problem

Highlights the problem as being widespread and affecting many individuals or groups.

a community-wide issue

Emphasizes the impact on the entire community and the need for a collective response.

a societal challenge

Positions the difficulty as one facing the entire society, requiring broad solutions.

a group struggle

Highlights the active effort and resistance required to overcome the difficulty within a group.

a mutual hardship

Emphasizes the suffering and adversity experienced jointly by a group.

a united front against adversity

Shifts the focus towards the unified response to a challenging situation.

a universal struggle

Highlights the struggle as something experienced by many people across the world.

a collaborative hurdle

Highlights difficulty that can be resolved in a collaborative manner.

FAQs

How can I use "a collective difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "a collective difficulty" to describe a problem or challenge faced by a group of people. For example: "The economic downturn presented "a collective difficulty" for small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "a collective difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "a shared challenge", "a common problem", or "a community-wide issue", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "collective difficulty" or "shared difficulty"?

Both "collective difficulty" and "shared difficulty" are acceptable. "Collective difficulty" emphasizes the group aspect, while "shared difficulty" highlights the common experience. The better choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "a collective difficulty" and "a personal difficulty"?

"A collective difficulty" refers to a challenge faced by a group, while "a personal difficulty" refers to a challenge faced by an individual. The scope and impact of the difficulty differ significantly.