a fundamental challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fundamental challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant or essential difficulty that needs to be addressed or overcome in a particular context. Example: "The team faced a fundamental challenge in meeting the project deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We face a fundamental challenge in economic reform," Turnbull said.

The Guardian

This is a fundamental challenge in creating an entrepreneurial culture.

University of California, Berkeley

Transmission to new hosts is a fundamental challenge for parasites.

International Journal for Parasitology

These different factors present a fundamental challenge to Egyptian hegemonic control over the Nile.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'm thinking of this as a fundamental challenge to my concept of holidays.

The Guardian - Travel

"A fundamental challenge of this process is how to preserve the artery and veins," he said.

The New York Times

It's political in the broadest possible sense, a fundamental challenge to life in the city.

The New Yorker

Fashioning Betty Boop as a mascara spokeswoman presented a fundamental challenge.

The New York Times

The street protests were widely seen in the West as a fundamental challenge to Iran's theocracy.

The New York Times

With a few caveats, Sunstein recommends her "paternalism of means" as a "fundamental challenge to Mill".

The New York Times

These new proposals pose a fundamental challenge to the UK's social contract.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fundamental challenge", ensure the context clearly establishes what makes the challenge 'fundamental'. Providing specific examples or elaborating on the underlying reasons will strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "a fundamental challenge" for minor or easily solvable problems. This phrase implies a deep-seated or systemic issue, so reserve it for situations of genuine significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fundamental challenge" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a core difficulty or obstacle. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to highlight significant problems across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

39%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fundamental challenge" is a versatile phrase used to describe core difficulties across various domains. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in science, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what makes the challenge 'fundamental'. While authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times employ it frequently, be mindful of overstating its significance to maintain precision in your writing. Alternatives such as "a core challenge" or "a key challenge" can offer subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a core challenge

Replaces 'fundamental' with 'core', emphasizing the central importance of the challenge.

a basic challenge

Substitutes 'fundamental' with 'basic', highlighting the foundational nature of the challenge.

a key challenge

Replaces 'fundamental' with 'key', stressing the importance and significance of the challenge.

a central difficulty

Replaces 'fundamental challenge' with 'central difficulty', focusing on the problematic aspect.

a major obstacle

Shifts from 'challenge' to 'obstacle', emphasizing the hindering aspect and replaces 'fundamental' with 'major'.

a critical issue

Changes 'challenge' to 'issue', framing it as a point of concern, and replaces 'fundamental' with 'critical'.

a primary concern

Replaces the entire phrase with a focus on the main worry or concern.

a significant hurdle

Replaces 'challenge' with 'hurdle', suggesting an obstacle to overcome, and replaces 'fundamental' with 'significant'.

a tough problem

Uses more informal language, replacing 'fundamental challenge' with 'tough problem'.

a serious impediment

Replaces 'challenge' with 'impediment', highlighting the hindering aspect, and replaces 'fundamental' with 'serious'.

FAQs

How can I use "a fundamental challenge" in a sentence?

You can use "a fundamental challenge" to describe a core difficulty or obstacle that needs to be addressed. For example, "Climate change presents "a fundamental challenge" to the way industries use energy and resources."

What are some alternatives to saying "a fundamental challenge"?

You can use alternatives like "a core challenge", "a key challenge", or "a major obstacle" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "fundamental challenge" or "basic challenge"?

Both "fundamental challenge" and "basic challenge" are grammatically correct, but "fundamental challenge" often implies a more far-reaching and significant issue than "basic challenge".

What is the difference between "a fundamental challenge" and "a serious challenge"?

"A fundamental challenge" refers to a challenge that is foundational or essential to a problem, while "a serious challenge" simply indicates a challenge that is significant in its impact or difficulty. The former suggests a challenge that underlies other issues.