a difficulty however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficulty however" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to introduce a contrasting point or exception, but it lacks proper structure and clarity. Example: "There was a plan in place; a difficulty, however, arose unexpectedly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

There is a difficulty, however.

The New Yorker

A difficulty, however, is that MCMC algorithms are serial by nature and do not easily migrate onto a parallel system.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

A difficulty, however, is that the transmission probability of a recessive deleterious allele depends on its selection coefficient in homozygotes (s), which is in general very hard to quantify.

Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A recurring difficulty, however, has been to maintain their stability in an aqueous environment.

Carbohydrate Polymers

It has a major difficulty, however, because it frequently experiences quality problems such as longitudinal curvature.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

A particular difficulty however is the decrease in convergence rate associated with the increase in number of solution domains.

Applied Mathematical Modelling

A potential difficulty, however, is that HLA genes partly evolve under balancing selection, which may create confounding effects.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

"There's probably some sort of alarm system they've had to deal with, so there was a degree of difficulty". However, Det Supt Moring said the break-in was "nowhere near" as sophisticated as more "high-profile" burglaries dealt with by the Flying Squad, such as the Hatton Garden heist.

BBC

A well-known difficulty, however, is the selection of the suitable set of GO categories, as many of categories are highly specific.

BMC Genomics

Thus, a difference in task difficulty, however estimated, cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for the effects observed in the neuroimaging data.

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

But, in the next breath, and with what sounds like a regretful sigh, Madison added: There was one difficulty however of a serious nature attending an immediate choice by the people.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider more appropriate conjunctions or adverbs, such as "nevertheless", "nonetheless", or "yet", for a smoother and more professional tone. These alternatives often enhance the flow and readability of your writing.

Common error

Avoid omitting the comma after "difficulty" when using "however" to introduce a contrasting element. Omitting the comma can create a run-on sentence and reduce clarity. The proper structure is: "a difficulty, however,".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficulty however" aims to introduce a contrasting element or present an exception to a previously stated idea. However, according to Ludwig AI, the structure is grammatically incorrect. It requires restructuring for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a difficulty however" is deemed grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests restructuring it to "a difficulty, however,", or using alternative phrases like "a problem, however", or "a challenge, nevertheless" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. While the phrase might be found in informal contexts, it's best to use more grammatically sound alternatives, as well as alternatives wordings in professional writing. The phrase is mostly used in Science and News & Media contexts, according to the source analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a problem, however

Replaces "difficulty" with "problem", maintaining a similar meaning but offering a slightly different nuance. This substitution maintains the structure while slightly altering the vocabulary.

a challenge, nevertheless

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge" and "however" with "nevertheless" to provide a more formal tone, indicating a problem that requires effort to overcome. It shifts the emphasis from a simple difficulty to an obstacle.

a hurdle, yet

Replaces "difficulty" with "hurdle", implying an obstacle to be overcome, and "however" with "yet", indicating a contrast. This change adds a sense of progression or overcoming an obstacle.

a setback, nonetheless

Changes "difficulty" to "setback", suggesting a temporary impediment, and "however" to "nonetheless", maintaining a similar contrasting function. This replacement highlights the temporary nature of the difficulty.

a complication, still

Replaces "difficulty" with "complication", indicating a more complex issue, and "however" with "still", showing persistence despite the issue. This substitution increases the complexity of the situation described.

a snag, even so

Uses "snag" in place of "difficulty" to denote a small, unexpected problem, and "even so" instead of "however" to introduce a contrast. This suggests a minor impediment that doesn't necessarily halt progress.

a hitch, be that as it may

Replaces "difficulty" with "hitch", a minor problem, and "however" with the idiomatic phrase "be that as it may", indicating acceptance of the problem. This emphasizes acknowledgment of the difficulty.

a drawback, on the other hand

Substitutes "difficulty" with "drawback", highlighting a negative aspect, and "however" with "on the other hand", providing a clear contrast. This version is more direct in pointing out the negative aspect.

a challenge, but

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge" and "however" with the simple conjunction "but" for a more direct contrast. The focus is now on overcoming an obstacle directly.

a stumbling block, yet

Substitutes "difficulty" with "stumbling block", emphasizing an obstacle that hinders progress, and "however" with "yet" to maintain the contrast. This conveys a strong sense of obstruction.

FAQs

Is "a difficulty however" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "a difficulty however" is not grammatically correct and lacks clarity. A more appropriate construction is "a difficulty, however,", with a comma after difficulty.

What are some alternatives to "a difficulty however" that improve clarity?

Instead of "a difficulty however", consider using phrases like "a problem, however", "a challenge, nevertheless", or "a hurdle, yet" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

How does using a comma after "difficulty" change the meaning of the sentence?

Adding a comma after "difficulty" (a difficulty, however,) provides a pause and sets off "however" as a parenthetical element. This makes it clear that "however" is introducing a contrasting point, thereby improving readability.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "a difficulty however"?

While not grammatically ideal, "a difficulty however" might be found in informal writing or speech. However, for professional or academic contexts, it's best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "a difficulty, however," or "a problem, nevertheless".