a long-term difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long-term difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a challenge or problem that persists over an extended period of time. Example: "The company has been facing a long-term difficulty in retaining skilled employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is the first systematic review to synthesise evidence on medium- and long-term effectiveness, which is striking given that stigma is often experienced by people with mental illness as a long-term difficulty.

British Journal of Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In a warning that the industry may have been too lenient with some of its customers, he said he believed a policy of "tough love" would be fairer to people facing long-term difficulty in keeping up payments on loans taken out when house prices were at their peak and personal incomes on the rise.

The Guardian - Business

"The greatest long-term difficulty is in the business model itself".

The New York Times - Arts

"Young teen mothers and their babies are at a greater risk of both immediate and long-term difficulties".

The New York Times

In a pilot study, Gilbert and Procter [22] administered compassionate mind training [CMT; 24], which aims at reducing self-criticism by focusing on compassionate images and emotions, to a sample of psychiatric patients with severe long-term difficulties.

Plosone

"When someone has insomnia -- a long-term sleep difficulty associated with daytime impairment -- the first steps are to look into good sleep practices," Roth said.

Huffington Post

A recent review shows that patients after HCT are likely to have long-term difficulties with physical functioning, problems with fatigue, distress and a deteriorated psychological well-being [ 22].

BMC Cancer

The LEDS is a semi-structured interview for assessing life events and long-term difficulties in adults.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

We carried out a qualitative study to examine the views of doctors with long-term difficulties on the obstacles they faced in returning to work.

BMJ Open

But it's one thing to talk reasonably about long-term difficulties, and another to spread fear about a bond-default apocalypse.

The New York Times

Long-term difficulties were assessed with the Social Problems Questionnaire SPQQ) [ 31], a short self-report questionnaire identifying social problems, difficulties and dissatisfactions.

Addiction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a long-term difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific area or situation where the difficulty exists. For example, "a long-term difficulty in retaining skilled employees".

Common error

Avoid using "a long-term difficulty" without specifying the nature of the difficulty. Be precise; vague references diminish clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long-term difficulty" functions as a noun phrase that describes a problem or challenge that persists over an extended period. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and used to denote lasting issues.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a long-term difficulty" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe persistent problems or challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While relatively rare, it appears in both scientific and news media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you specify the nature of the difficulty to avoid vagueness. Consider alternatives like "a protracted problem" or "a persistent challenge" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a protracted problem

Emphasizes the extended duration of the problem.

a persistent challenge

Highlights the ongoing nature of the challenge.

an enduring hardship

Focuses on the lasting and difficult nature of the experience.

a chronic issue

Implies a recurring or ongoing problem.

a sustained obstacle

Highlights the continuous nature of the impediment.

a long-lasting setback

Focuses on the enduring impact of the difficulty.

a perennial concern

Implies a recurring concern or worry.

a deep-seated issue

Focuses on the fundamental and entrenched nature of the problem.

a long-running problem

Stresses the extended duration of the problem.

a continuing struggle

Emphasizes the ongoing effort required to overcome the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "a long-term difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "a long-term difficulty" to describe persistent problems or challenges that extend over a significant period. For example, "The company is facing "a long-term difficulty" in maintaining its market share".

What are some alternatives to saying "a long-term difficulty"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a protracted problem", "a persistent challenge", or "an enduring hardship".

What's the difference between "a long-term difficulty" and "a short-term difficulty"?

"A long-term difficulty" refers to a problem that persists for an extended period, while "a short-term difficulty" describes a problem that is expected to resolve relatively quickly.

Is it better to use "long-term challenge" or "a long-term difficulty"?

Both are acceptable, but "a long-term difficulty" emphasizes the problematic nature, while "long-term challenge" may imply an opportunity for growth or improvement. The best choice depends on the specific context.