a setback is foreseeable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a setback is foreseeable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing potential challenges or obstacles that are likely to occur in a given situation or project. Example: "Given the current market conditions, a setback is foreseeable in our sales projections for the next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A setback is not a bad thing.

Forbes

A decreasing demand for oil in the future is foreseeable.

Petroleum Science

Predictive determinism states that everything is foreseeable.

SEP

A major setback is parents' reluctance in accessing medical services.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This emergency was foreseeable.

The New York Times

The reaction was foreseeable.

University of California, Berkeley

"That's foreseeable".

The New York Times - Sports

This fire was foreseeable.

The Guardian

And they were foreseeable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of our problems were foreseeable.

The New York Times

That, too, was foreseeable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a setback is foreseeable" to proactively address potential risks in project planning or strategic discussions. It sets a tone of preparedness rather than discouragement.

Common error

Avoid using "a setback is foreseeable" when aiming for motivational language. This phrase is best suited for realistic risk assessment, not for encouraging optimism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a setback is foreseeable" functions as a predictive statement, indicating that a negative event or obstacle can be anticipated. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It suggests a level of preparation and awareness of potential challenges.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a setback is foreseeable" is grammatically correct, but Ludwig indicates it is not commonly used. It functions as a predictive statement, used to forewarn of a potential problem. While it is suitable for neutral registers in both news and business contexts, it is important to consider alternatives such as "a challenge is anticipated" to convey similar meanings with potentially greater clarity or impact. Understanding appropriate contexts and usage will improve writing and risk assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenge is anticipated

Replaces "setback" with "challenge" and "foreseeable" with "anticipated", focusing on a potential difficulty that is expected.

a problem is expected

Substitutes "setback" with "problem" and "foreseeable" with "expected", indicating a belief that an issue will likely arise.

a difficulty is predictable

Changes "setback" to "difficulty" and "foreseeable" to "predictable", emphasizing the ability to foresee an upcoming hardship.

a reversal is likely

Replaces "setback" with "reversal" and "foreseeable" with "likely", focusing on the probability of a negative change in circumstances.

a negative outcome is anticipated

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the negative result and its expectation.

complications are expected

Focuses on potential "complications" that are anticipated, instead of using the word setback.

difficulties are anticipated

Uses the plural "difficulties" instead of "a setback" and replaces "foreseeable" with "anticipated".

a decline is anticipated

Emphasizes a downward trend or "decline" that is expected or "anticipated".

obstacles are foreseeable

Focuses on foreseeable "obstacles" that may impede progress.

a hurdle is expected

Uses a metaphoric phrase "hurdle" for setback and "expected" for foreseeable.

FAQs

How to use "a setback is foreseeable" in a sentence?

Use "a setback is foreseeable" when you want to express that a problem or negative event is likely to happen. For example, "Given the market volatility, "a setback is foreseeable" in the next quarter".

What can I say instead of "a setback is foreseeable"?

You can use alternatives like "a challenge is anticipated", "a problem is expected", or "a difficulty is predictable" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a setback is foreseeable" or "a setback is possible"?

"A setback is foreseeable" suggests a higher degree of likelihood based on current information. "A setback is possible" indicates a potential but not necessarily expected outcome.

What's the difference between "a setback is foreseeable" and "a setback is inevitable"?

"A setback is foreseeable" implies a reasonable prediction based on current circumstances. "A setback is inevitable" suggests that the negative event is unavoidable and certain to occur.