a considerable difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a considerable difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a significant challenge or obstacle that one is facing. Example: "The team encountered a considerable difficulty in meeting the project deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Pte Manning referred to these issues in his statement, saying they were "ongoing" and "a considerable difficulty in my life", but adding that they were no excuse for his actions.

BBC

However, FCM algorithm has a considerable difficulty in noisy environments, and the memberships resulting from this algorithm do not always correspond to the intuitive concept of degree of belonging or compatibility.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The design of capacity and operation of CHCP (combined heat, cooling and power) plants applied to HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) in buildings entails a considerable difficulty, because efficiency and economic aspects frequently interact in a complex way.

Energy

Even though there is a considerable difficulty for NN to learn during the TEC prediction process on equinox days during this period due to the occurrence of an equatorial plasma bubble, which includes various ionospheric irregularity scales, causing a large day-tonight variation and a drastically-fluctuating component of the TEC, the hourly model is still able to predict TEC quite well.

Earth, Planets and Space

For some periods, even though there is a considerable difficulty for the NN to learn during the TEC prediction process due to large variations of TEC, not only on equinox days, but also on solstice days, our model is still able to predict TEC quite well.

Earth, Planets and Space

Hence, from the clinical point of view there will be a considerable difficulty in making a decision as to whether a given patient has salivary gland hypofunction, a condition that requires additional salivary gland evaluation.

BMC Oral Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

As a result, a designer often encounters considerable difficulty in achieving a structural solution that meets the target displacement and attains a desired yield mechanism.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

That means that nearly 17percentt of all couples who try to conceive a baby have considerable difficulty, and many seek help from a fertility specialist.

Huffington Post

The effort to link biochemical pathways and molecular interactions to the behavior of whole cells and to infer causality from statistical correlation in large data sets in photo-chemotherapy is a matter of considerable difficulty, and to account for all biological variation is a very challenging goal.

BMC Medical Genomics

It was a solution of considerable difficulty.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If the language becomes popular, it becomes important to write compilers for it, although this may be a task of considerable difficulty.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a considerable difficulty" to emphasize the magnitude of the problem or challenge you are describing. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to convey that the difficulty is significant and requires serious attention.

Common error

Avoid using "a considerable difficulty" if the problem is minor or easily resolved. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Instead, consider using milder terms like "a slight issue" or "a minor inconvenience".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a considerable difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase describes something that causes trouble or hardship. The word "considerable" modifies "difficulty", enhancing the intensity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a considerable difficulty" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a significant challenge or obstacle. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for highlighting a noteworthy problem. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal tone, it should be used judiciously to avoid overstating minor issues. Alternatives such as "a significant challenge" or "a major obstacle" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its application in diverse scenarios, emphasizing the magnitude of the difficulty being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge", softening the negative connotation slightly.

a major obstacle

Substitutes "difficulty" with "obstacle", emphasizing the hindering aspect.

a tough predicament

Replaces the entire phrase with a more specific term describing a difficult situation.

a thorny issue

Replaces "difficulty" with a metaphor, suggesting a problem that is complex and potentially painful.

a substantial impediment

Uses a more formal word, "impediment", to convey a similar meaning of hindrance.

a grave concern

Shifts the focus to the worry caused by the difficulty, rather than the difficulty itself.

a demanding task

Focuses on the effort required to overcome the difficulty, framing it as a task.

a complex problem

Highlights the intricate nature of the difficulty.

a formidable barrier

Emphasizes the imposing nature of the difficulty, portraying it as a barrier to progress.

a tricky situation

Emphasizes the delicate nature of the difficulty, implying that careful handling is required.

FAQs

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

You can use "a considerable difficulty" to describe a significant challenge or obstacle. For example: "The project faced "a considerable difficulty" due to unexpected budget cuts."

What are some alternatives to "a considerable difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "a significant challenge", "a major obstacle", or "a tough predicament", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a considerable difficulty" or "a significant difficulty"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a considerable difficulty" might imply a slightly larger or more impactful problem than "a significant difficulty". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "a considerable difficulty" instead of "difficulty"?

Use "a considerable difficulty" when you want to emphasize that the difficulty is substantial or noteworthy. Simply using "difficulty" might not convey the full extent of the problem.