a significant impediment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant impediment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a major obstacle or barrier that hinders progress or achievement in a particular context. Example: "The lack of funding has become a significant impediment to the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His weight would be a significant impediment to recovery.

The New Yorker

"It removes a significant impediment in terms of getting nontraditional candidates on the ballot".

The New York Times

Sadly, there is still a significant impediment: lazy, uninspired liquor retailers.

The Washington Post

But a significant impediment to these trials remains the question of what endpoints should be measured?

Ageing Research Reviews

Fire officials at headquarters contend that the lack of notifications should not have presented a significant impediment to effective inspections.

The New York Times

Transportation barriers are common among patients with chronic diseases and represent a significant impediment to improving patient outcomes.

Harvard Business Review

Drug resistance remains a significant impediment to successful chemotherapy and constitutes a major prognostic factor in osteosarcoma (OS) patients.

Nuclear Medicine and Biology

Methodological constraints associated with the collection and analysis of biological samples in community-based settings have been a significant impediment to integrative, multi-level biodemographic research.

Princeton University

Nevertheless, there remains a significant impediment to the more widespread adoption of convex programming: the high level of expertise required to use it.

Stanford University

County officials said a significant impediment to building below-market-rate housing in Westchester has been the cost of acquiring property.

The New York Times

Numerous gender-equality advocates have pointed out that this policy is a significant impediment to the W-GDP's goal of assisting women economically.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant impediment", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being hindered or obstructed. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant impediment" when describing minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations where the obstacle genuinely has a substantial impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant impediment" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI examples show it describing a notable obstacle hindering progress or achievement. For example, "Drug resistance remains a significant impediment to successful chemotherapy."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant impediment" is a frequently used phrase, particularly in scientific, academic, and news contexts, to describe a major obstacle or barrier. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. While alternatives like "a major obstacle" or "a considerable barrier" exist, understanding the context is crucial for choosing the most appropriate wording. Be mindful of overstating the significance when using this phrase, reserving it for genuinely substantial impediments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major obstacle

Replaces 'impediment' with 'obstacle', indicating a barrier that hinders progress.

a considerable barrier

Uses 'barrier' instead of 'impediment', suggesting something that prevents movement or progress.

a substantial hindrance

Substitutes 'impediment' with 'hindrance', denoting something that delays or obstructs.

a noteworthy obstruction

Replaces 'significant' with 'noteworthy' and 'impediment' with 'obstruction', emphasizing the importance and obstructive nature of the issue.

a serious obstacle

Uses 'serious' instead of 'significant', highlighting the gravity of the obstacle.

a formidable challenge

Replaces 'impediment' with 'challenge', framing the obstacle as something that requires effort to overcome.

a major stumbling block

Uses the idiomatic expression 'stumbling block' to convey the idea of an obstacle that causes one to falter.

a critical bottleneck

Employs 'bottleneck' to suggest a point of congestion that restricts flow or progress.

a severe constraint

Replaces 'impediment' with 'constraint', indicating a limitation or restriction.

a large setback

Uses 'setback' to describe a reversal or delay in progress.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a significant impediment"?

You can use alternatives like "a major obstacle", "a considerable barrier", or "a substantial hindrance" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "a significant impediment" in a sentence?

Use "a significant impediment" to describe something that seriously hinders progress or achievement. For example, "Lack of funding is a significant impediment to the project's success."

What's the difference between "a significant impediment" and "a minor inconvenience"?

"A significant impediment" describes a major obstacle that substantially hinders progress, while "a minor inconvenience" refers to a small, often trivial, difficulty. The former has a much greater impact than the latter.

Is it appropriate to use "a significant impediment" in formal writing?

Yes, "a significant impediment" is suitable for formal writing as it is a clear and professional way to describe a substantial obstacle. It is commonly used in academic, business, and news contexts.