a critical obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a critical obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant barrier or challenge that must be overcome in a particular situation or context. Example: "The lack of funding has become a critical obstacle to the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Last week, a Wisconsin company won a patent that it says overcomes a critical obstacle in cloning mammal cells.

The New York Times

[C16.] Cloning Patent Raises Questions A Wisconsin company has won a patent that it says overcomes a critical obstacle in cloning mammal cells.

The New York Times

A critical obstacle to peace in the region is the steadfast refusal of the Palestinian Authority to take responsibility for its own actions.

The New York Times

A critical obstacle for Mr. Obama is the economy, which continues to struggle here, and which Republicans argue will hurt him with all groups of voters.

The New York Times

The trip meant that Ms. Rice, and not the secretary of state, was the first top Bush foreign policy official to visit Moscow, whose opposition to a missile shield is a critical obstacle to be navigated.

The New York Times

But, according to one observer, "the problem was not Obama's identification of the settlement issue as a critical obstacle to the resumption of talks and, beyond that, to the two-state model itself – it was his failure to stick with it in the face of Netanyahu's intransigence".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The critical obstacle in modeling psychiatric disorders has been limited information about their origin and underlying neural mechanisms.

Neuropsychopharmacology

However, unstable catalytic activity of Pd is the most critical obstacle in the development of Pd-based electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation, and the fundamental understanding on Pd deactivation is still incomplete.

Electrochimica Acta

To deal with this critical obstacle, Zou et al. investigated the problem of relay selection to maximize the received signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) at SU under a novel independent primary outage constraint for PU [18], in which only the statistical CSI of PU is required at SU.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Yet, despite their promise, one critical obstacle to the development of PET/OI immunoconjugates is the lack of site-specificity in the bioconjugation of radionuclides and fluorophores.

Bioconjugate Chemistry

This work helps address one critical obstacle in the use of beta cells for cell replacement therapy for diabetes in the future, the availability of sufficient numbers of mature beta cells for transplantation.

EBioMedicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a critical obstacle", ensure the context clearly defines what actions are being impeded and why the obstacle is significant. Providing specific details strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a critical obstacle" when the barrier is merely inconvenient rather than fundamentally hindering progress. Reserve this phrase for situations where overcoming the obstacle is essential for success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a critical obstacle" functions as a noun phrase identifying a significant impediment. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from scientific challenges to political barriers, all confirming its role in pinpointing key difficulties.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a critical obstacle" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a significant impediment or challenge. Analysis of Ludwig's examples indicates that this phrase frequently appears in science and news media contexts. The phrase's communicative purpose is to emphasize the importance of a specific barrier that hinders progress. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the actions being impeded and why the obstacle is significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major impediment

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "major impediment", altering the specific noun while retaining the sense of a significant barrier.

a significant hurdle

Substitutes "critical obstacle" with "significant hurdle", offering a more metaphorical representation of a challenge.

a key challenge

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "key challenge", shifting the focus to the demanding nature of the situation.

a primary barrier

Substitutes "critical obstacle" with "primary barrier", emphasizing the restrictive nature of the impediment.

a substantial roadblock

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "substantial roadblock", offering a more visual representation of something blocking progress.

a formidable challenge

Uses "formidable challenge" instead of "critical obstacle" to highlight the difficulty and intimidating nature of the obstacle.

a serious stumbling block

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "serious stumbling block", emphasizing the potential for failure.

a tough challenge

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "tough challenge", softening the overall tone while maintaining the sense of difficulty.

a major difficulty

Substitutes "critical obstacle" with "major difficulty", providing a more general and less forceful alternative.

a considerable setback

Replaces "critical obstacle" with "considerable setback", focusing on the negative impact of the barrier on progress.

FAQs

How can I use "a critical obstacle" in a sentence?

You can use "a critical obstacle" to describe a significant barrier that prevents progress or success. For example, "Lack of funding is "a critical obstacle" to completing the project."

What can I say instead of "a critical obstacle"?

Alternatives include "a major impediment", "a significant hurdle", or "a key challenge", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "critical obstacle"?

While "obstacle" inherently implies a hindrance, using "critical" emphasizes the severity and importance of the obstacle. The redundancy is minimal and acceptable when highlighting the obstacle's significance.

What's the difference between "a critical obstacle" and "a minor inconvenience"?

"A critical obstacle" represents a major barrier that significantly impedes progress, while "a minor inconvenience" is a slight annoyance that does not fundamentally hinder progress. The former is a serious impediment, whereas the latter is a trivial matter.