a growing difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a growing difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an increasing challenge or problem that is becoming more significant over time. Example: "As the project progressed, we encountered a growing difficulty in meeting the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Department chiefs predict a growing difficulty in recruiting physicians and residents.

The New York Times

"This is the market signaling there is a problem," said Jan Stuart, global oil economist at UBS, "that there is a growing difficulty to meet demand with new supplies".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Russia is in a position of growing difficulty for not honoring its contractual obligations and, finances aside, Russia is getting "no points in Iran".

The Guardian

But it is also a symptom of the growing difficulty of reading a story about Israel without questioning its biases.

The New York Times

The observed decrease in the number of "Accepted" SCPCH was thus likely linked in a large part to the growing difficulty to identify "priming regions" when an increased number of (distantly related) genomic resources was considered (Figure 2C).

Plosone

Syrian rebels' success in seizing three military bases in less than a week has underscored the growing difficulty faced by Damascus in securing its outposts and stopping a rebel encroachment that has claimed large swaths of the east and north of the country.

The Guardian

Regis poses five more multiple choice questions of growing difficulty, toward a guarantee of $32,000.

The New York Times - Magazine

Jim Wassel, founder and chairman of the alliance, admits that that may be a lofty goal, considering the growing difficulty of raising funds on behalf of the families.

The New York Times

Hence, the growing difficulty in selecting a mapper has been raised in recent studies aimed at evaluating mapper performances through a multiplicity of comparison criteria.

BMC Genomics

What researchers have noticed, and often with some unease, is the growing difficulty of defining religion in a world characterized by exponential transformation.

Huffington Post

The sport's growing difficulty and its 200-page rulebook make it a tough sell to new players.In the past stars have had the power to reignite interest in the game.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a growing difficulty" when you want to emphasize the increasing nature of a problem or challenge over time. For instance, "There is "growing difficulty" in maintaining project momentum as deadlines approach."

Common error

Avoid using "a growing difficulty" when the problem is already at its peak. Instead, use "a significant difficulty" or "a major challenge" to reflect the current state without implying a progressive increase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage. It describes an escalating or intensifying problem or challenge. For example, "The company is experiencing a growing difficulty in retaining employees."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a growing difficulty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe an escalating problem or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic writing, as confirmed by the variety of authoritative sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely reflects an issue that is progressively increasing in severity, as misusing it could diminish the clarity of your message. Consider synonyms like "an escalating challenge" or "a mounting obstacle" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a growing disadvantage

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym that emphasizes a less favorable position.

a growing obstacle

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym that emphasizes a barrier or impediment.

a growing challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym emphasizing a test of one's abilities.

a growing dilemma

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym emphasizing a situation with difficult choices.

a growing predicament

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym emphasizing a troublesome situation.

a growing complexity

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym that highlights increasing intricacy.

a greater difficulty

Emphasizes the magnitude of the difficulty rather than its progression.

a growing distress

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym indicating increasing suffering or hardship.

a progressing difficulty

Uses a different verb form to describe the increase in difficulty.

an increasing hardship

Replaces "difficulty" with a stronger term, "hardship", to emphasize the severity.

FAQs

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

You can use "a growing difficulty" to describe a problem that is becoming more challenging over time. For example: "The company is facing "growing difficulty" in attracting new customers."

What's the difference between "a growing difficulty" and "a major difficulty"?

"A growing difficulty" suggests that the problem is increasing in severity, while "a major difficulty" indicates that the problem is already significant in scale or impact.

What can I say instead of "a growing difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "an escalating challenge", "an increasing problem", or "a mounting obstacle" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "growing difficulties" or "a growing difficulty"?

Use "a growing difficulty" when referring to a single, specific challenge that is intensifying. Use "growing difficulties" when referring to multiple challenges that are collectively increasing.