a primary difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a primary difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main challenges or obstacles in a particular context or situation. Example: "One primary difficulty in implementing the new software is the lack of training for staff."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A primary difficulty with such a definition is that its sensitivity to factors known collectively as "bone quality" has not been clarified, and it is tempting to attribute the diagnostic ambiguities of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements to their failure to account for these features.

Osteoporosis

A primary difficulty in using a data set of the distribution of volcanic vents is determination of independence of events.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

A primary difficulty in bioinformatics is integrating erratically formatted data from different resources [17], [18].

Plosone

A primary difficulty is that the soybean genome is 4 10 times larger than the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana, Medicago truncatulata or Lotus japonicus.

BMC Genomics

A primary difficulty lies in defining a treatment that will effectively destroy disseminated tumor cells without significant toxicity to the patient.

Breast Cancer Research

In natural systems, a primary difficulty to exporting more sophisticated tools in their integrity, such as transgenesis and genome editing, to a wide range of organisms resides in the endless differences in the specificities of each model system.

Briefings in Functional Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The primary difficulty is making use of a potentially infinite set of solutions.

Procedia Computer Science

The primary difficulty in the identification of Hammerstein nonlinear systems (a static memoryless nonlinear system in series with a dynamic linear system) is that the output of the nonlinear system (input to the linear system) is unknown.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Summative statement "The probability of H, given the evidence, is x%" "If its contrary were true, then the chances of H (or a more extreme statement of H) would be less than x%" Primary difficulty New information must compete with old, making the process of discovery more conservative and necessarily cumulative The assumption of no difference is always false.

Crime Science

This is exactly the relationship we would expect for a set of cDNAs that are not truly full-length, since the primary difficulty in producing full-length cDNAs is obtaining the full 5'-end.

Plosone

The primary difficulty in diagnosing infections by Penicillium, due to its rarity, is a low clinical suspicion.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before using the phrase, make sure it accurately represents the central challenge. If several difficulties exist, consider if "a primary difficulty" truly encapsulates the most pressing issue.

Common error

Avoid using "a primary difficulty" when describing a minor inconvenience. Reserve this phrase for substantial obstacles that significantly impact the situation you're analyzing. Using it loosely dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a significant problem or challenge within a given context. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various domains, highlighting core impediments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary difficulty" is a useful phrase for highlighting significant challenges, particularly in academic, scientific, and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize a major obstacle that requires attention. Be mindful of the context and ensure that the difficulty you're describing truly warrants the term "primary". Alternatives like "a major challenge" or "a key obstacle" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major challenge

Emphasizes the significance and scale of the difficulty.

a key obstacle

Highlights the blocking or hindering nature of the difficulty.

a central problem

Focuses on the difficulty being at the heart of the issue.

a main hurdle

Suggests an obstacle that needs to be overcome.

the principal issue

Indicates the difficulty is the most important concern.

the core impediment

Highlights a fundamental barrier to progress.

a significant drawback

Points to a disadvantage or negative aspect.

the foremost struggle

Emphasizes the effort and fight involved in addressing the difficulty.

a critical snag

Suggests a sudden and unexpected problem.

the chief stumbling block

Highlights a major cause of failure or delay.

FAQs

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

You can use "a primary difficulty" to introduce a significant challenge or obstacle. For example, "A primary difficulty in this project is securing sufficient funding."

What are some alternatives to "a primary difficulty"?

Alternatives include "a major challenge", "a key obstacle", or "a central problem" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a primary difficulty" or "the primary difficulty"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "the primary difficulty" implies there is only one main challenge, while "a primary difficulty" suggests it's one of potentially several significant challenges.

What is the difference between "a primary difficulty" and "a minor difficulty"?

"A primary difficulty" refers to a major, significant problem, while "a minor difficulty" refers to a smaller, less important issue. The choice depends on the scale and impact of the problem you're describing.