a major difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a major difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant challenge or obstacle in various contexts, such as academic, professional, or personal situations. Example: "One of the major difficulties we faced during the project was a lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lighting is a major difficulty.

The New Yorker

It just feels like a major difficulty in life".

The New York Times - Arts

It gets messy towards the end, where Cusk overcomplicates the plot and ducks a major difficulty.

The Guardian

"P14 now explains perfectly a major difficulty which we couldn't understand," Dr. McCormick said.

The New York Times - Health

In addition, patent rights remained a major difficulty for the industry.

Britannica

There is a major difficulty in identifying the difference between mental illness and "lashing out".

Harvard University

"A major difficulty", he says, "is that we are still only partially mechanised.

The Economist

A major difficulty in the interpretation of test results is that of biological variability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is a major difficulty of docking control in the probe and drogue refueling.

Chinese Journal of Aeronautics

Large deformation of soft rock roadway has always been a major difficulty in deep mining practices.

Engineering Geology

This poses a major difficulty for a reliable interpretation of geochemical results.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Quantify the difficulty where possible. For example, instead of simply stating "a major difficulty", specify the impact, such as "a major difficulty in reducing costs by 20%."

Common error

Avoid using "a major difficulty" for minor inconveniences. Reserve the phrase for genuinely significant challenges to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a major difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes a significant problem or obstacle. Ludwig examples confirm its use across various domains to denote substantial challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a major difficulty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express significant challenges. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to highlight substantial problems across diverse contexts. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral-to-formal register, often appearing in scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources. To maximize its impact, ensure the context clearly defines the specific difficulty, and quantify its effects whenever possible. Avoid using the phrase for trivial issues to maintain its gravitas. Consider alternatives like ""a significant challenge"" or ""a substantial obstacle"" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable difficulty

Indicates a substantial but not necessarily overwhelming challenge.

a significant challenge

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the situation.

a substantial obstacle

Highlights the impediment aspect more strongly.

a notable impediment

Formal and emphasizes prevention of progress.

a key issue

Focuses on the problem as a central point of concern.

a tough problem

Informal and indicates a hard-to-solve situation.

a primary concern

Highlights that the difficulty is a main worry.

a critical bottleneck

More specific, referring to a point of congestion or blockage.

a central hurdle

Highlights the need to overcome the problem to proceed.

a tough nut to crack

An idiom indicating a particularly stubborn problem.

FAQs

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

You can use "a major difficulty" to describe significant challenges. For example, "A major difficulty in our project was securing funding".

What are some alternatives to "a major difficulty"?

Alternatives include "a significant challenge", "a substantial obstacle", or "a notable impediment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the major difficulty is"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. For example, "The major difficulty is the lack of resources".

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

"A major difficulty" refers to a significant problem, while "a minor difficulty" refers to a small or less important problem. The choice depends on the severity of the issue.