a significant obstacle for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant obstacle for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a major challenge or barrier that affects someone or something in a particular context. Example: "The lack of funding has become a significant obstacle for the development of the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

This is a significant obstacle for implementation of RE policies.

Energy Policy

A significant obstacle for women that she highlights is the "two-body problem".

The Guardian

However, crowded NMR spectra represent a significant obstacle for the complete resolution of these anisotropic parameters.

Chemical Physics Letters

However, in vivo delivery issues still represent a significant obstacle for widespread clinical applications.

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

As timber is a combustible material, fire safety is a significant obstacle for the development of timber usage in buildings.

Engineering Structures

In project management, high levels of risk are considered to be a significant obstacle for project success.

Journal of Operations Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

A permanent solution would remove a significant obstacle to Turkey's hoped-for membership of the EU, and a source of ongoing tension between Nato partners in Athens and Ankara.

The Guardian

Pre-hospital delay remains a significant obstacle to improving treatment for ACS.

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

The large degree of ALR redundancy coupled with an incomplete database of ALRs represents a significant obstacle in engineering E. coli for either aldehyde or alkane production.

Metabolic Engineering

Even now, administration officials say, the Pentagon's determination to retain its grip of the vast swath of the intelligence budget it now controls remains a significant obstacle to any White House recommendation for major change.

The New York Times

In the past, that split was much less favorable, and a significant obstacle in the legislative battle for same-sex marriage in the state was the opposition of some influential black pastors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a significant obstacle for", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being hindered or obstructed. For example, "Lack of funding is a significant obstacle for the project's completion."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what the obstacle is affecting. Instead of just saying "It's a significant obstacle for success", specify, "The outdated technology is a significant obstacle for the company's success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant obstacle for" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It identifies something that hinders progress or achievement. Ludwig AI confirms that the examples show correct usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant obstacle for" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a major impediment affecting a person, project, or goal. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its widespread use across various domains, particularly in science, news, and business contexts. While versatile, it's essential to clearly identify what exactly the obstacle is hindering. Related phrases such as "a major impediment to" or "a substantial challenge for" can offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. By understanding the nuances of this phrase and its related terms, writers can effectively communicate challenges and their potential impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major impediment to

Replaces "obstacle" with "impediment" and changes "for" to "to", emphasizing a hindering effect.

a considerable barrier to

Substitutes "significant" with "considerable" and "obstacle" with "barrier", highlighting the restrictive nature.

a substantial challenge for

Replaces "obstacle" with "challenge", focusing on the difficulty presented.

a key hurdle for

Replaces "significant obstacle" with "key hurdle", suggesting a critical difficulty to overcome.

a primary constraint on

Changes "obstacle" to "constraint", emphasizing limitation, and "for" to "on".

a notable hindrance to

Uses "hindrance" instead of "obstacle", indicating something that delays or prevents progress.

a severe limitation on

Emphasizes the restrictive aspect by using "limitation" instead of "obstacle" and "severe" instead of "significant".

a tough impediment for

Replaces "major" with "tough" and "obstacle" with "impediment", giving the phrase a slightly more informal tone.

a difficult barrier for

Highlights the difficulty by using "difficult" instead of "significant" and replacing "obstacle" with "barrier".

a tricky roadblock to

Replaces "obstacle" with "roadblock", suggesting an obstruction in progress and uses more informal language

FAQs

How can I use "a significant obstacle for" in a sentence?

Use "a significant obstacle for" to describe something that seriously hinders progress or achievement. For example: "Bureaucratic delays are "a significant obstacle for" the timely completion of the project".

What can I say instead of "a significant obstacle for"?

You can use alternatives like "a major impediment to", "a considerable barrier to", or "a substantial challenge for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a significant obstacle to" instead of "a significant obstacle for"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "a significant obstacle to" typically precedes a noun or gerund phrase indicating the thing being obstructed, whereas "a significant obstacle for" is often followed by the entity facing the obstacle. Consider: "The bureaucracy is "a significant obstacle to" progress" versus "The bureaucracy is "a significant obstacle for" the project team".

What's the difference between "a significant obstacle for" and "a significant challenge for"?

"A significant obstacle for" implies something is being blocked or hindered, while "a significant challenge for" suggests something requires considerable effort and skill to overcome. An obstacle prevents progress; a challenge motivates effort.