a difficulty has surfaced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficulty has surfaced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a problem or challenge has emerged or become apparent. Example: "During the project review, a difficulty has surfaced regarding the timeline for completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But now a countercurrent has surfaced.

The Guardian

But a new rival has surfaced.

The New York Times - Arts

The Energy Department is entirely complicit in the difficulties that have surfaced at Los Alamos over the last several years.

The New York Times

The economic bubble burst, however, in 1989, and Price documents difficulties that have surfaced since that time.

Cornell University

New difficulties also have surfaced over the past few days.

Los Angeles Times

The difficulty has been resolved by utilizing a homogenous Dirichlet condition at the surface.

Journal of Crystal Growth

A Twitter account, HammerofDill, has since surfaced.

The New York Times - Sports

Stevenson happily concedes that she relishes playing on the game's slickest, quickest surface, but her on-court difficulties have not simply been a question of changing topography.

The New York Times - Sports

A sphere has two surface dimensions.

The Economist

Market contagion and rating downgrades, starting when the magnitude of Greece's difficulties surfaced in early 2010, have become a self-fulfilling prophecy: by raising Portugal's borrowing costs to unsustainable levels, the rating agencies forced it to seek a bailout.

The New York Times

This may stem from a difficulty in identifying the surface boundaries where relative disparity is available.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a difficulty has surfaced", ensure the context clearly indicates what the difficulty is and its potential impact. Be specific in describing the nature of the difficulty to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a difficulty has surfaced" in contexts where a more active voice would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "A difficulty has surfaced regarding the budget allocation", consider "We've encountered a budget allocation problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficulty has surfaced" functions as an expression indicating the emergence of a problem or challenge. It typically acts as a statement introducing an issue that requires attention or resolution. Ludwig's AI indicates it as a correct and usable sentence.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a difficulty has surfaced" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that a problem or challenge has emerged. Ludwig provides real English usage examples that help writers understand the context and usage of this phrase. While not exceptionally frequent, it is a clear and direct way to introduce an issue that requires attention. Alternatives such as "a problem has arisen" or "an issue has emerged" can be used depending on the specific context and desired level of formality. It is crucial to clearly define the nature of the difficulty when using this phrase to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A problem has arisen

Emphasizes the occurrence of an issue, changing the specific noun.

An issue has emerged

Replaces "difficulty" with "issue", indicating a matter of concern has come to light.

Trouble has emerged

Uses the general term "trouble" to signify the arising of a problem.

A challenge has presented itself

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge", focusing on the demanding nature of the situation.

A complication has developed

Indicates that a complex situation has evolved, introducing a challenging element.

An obstacle has appeared

Emphasizes the blocking nature of the difficulty, suggesting something that needs to be overcome.

A hurdle has presented itself

Similar to "obstacle", but with a nuance of something that can be jumped over with effort.

A snag has cropped up

Uses a more informal term "snag" to describe a minor difficulty that has appeared unexpectedly.

A hitch has surfaced

Synonymous with "snag", indicating a temporary or unexpected difficulty.

A setback has occurred

Focuses on the negative impact of the difficulty, highlighting a hindrance to progress.

FAQs

What does "a difficulty has surfaced" mean?

It means that a problem or challenge has recently become apparent or has emerged.

What can I say instead of "a difficulty has surfaced"?

You can use alternatives like "a problem has arisen", "an issue has emerged", or "a challenge has presented itself", depending on the specific context.

Is "a difficulty has surfaced" formal or informal?

The phrase is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in professional or news-related writing.

How to use "a difficulty has surfaced" in a sentence?

Example: "During the project review, "a difficulty has surfaced" regarding the timeline for completion." Ensure the sentence clearly identifies the nature of the difficulty.