a special difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a special difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a particular challenge or obstacle that is unique or distinct in nature. Example: "The project presented a special difficulty due to the tight deadlines and limited resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Republicans this year faced a special difficulty, of course.

The New York Times

A special difficulty was her fervid attachment to her father.

The New Yorker

The jeremiad's call for purity posed a special difficulty for 17th-century Congregationalists.

The New York Times - Magazine

There's a special difficulty for anyone setting stories in history, in that the material they're pressing into life comes already mediated through our historical knowledge, through hindsight.

The Guardian - Books

Mandelson has been arguing that the government faces a special difficulty in trying to be honest with the public and the markets.

The Guardian

And it makes a special difficulty for the kind of explanations and accounts of religion that I find most convincing, ie the sociological view that religion is a way in which society learns to understand itself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

She is officially regarded as a peasant in "special difficulty", but she is kept above the poverty line by several hundred yuan a month in remittances from her children.

The Economist

She stays in touch with the female C.I.A. agent — "my big sister" — whom she shadowed while researching the role and who gave her insight into the special difficulty of a woman working in the Middle East with male suspects.

The New York Times

The lack of detailed examination to determine learning outcomes, the absence of an evaluation mechanism, and the special difficulty language education holds for their appreciation are noted.

System

The fact that fitness is a probabilistic disposition makes for no special difficulty on this analysis.

SEP

Directgov has a similar problem, but Businesslink has the special difficulty of extracting web content and commitment from bodies that may lack resources to cooperate.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a special difficulty", ensure the context clearly defines what makes the difficulty unique or distinct. Providing specific details helps the reader understand the challenge at hand.

Common error

Avoid using "a special difficulty" without explaining what sets it apart from other challenges. Failing to provide context can render the phrase vague and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a special difficulty" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific challenge or obstacle that is particularly noteworthy or unique. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a special difficulty" is a noun phrase used to denote a unique or noteworthy challenge. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appears across diverse sources, including scientific, news, and encyclopedic content. The phrase is neither overly formal nor informal, making it versatile for various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the specific nature of the difficulty. Alternatives include "a particular challenge" or "a unique obstacle", which can add nuance depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge", emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

a unique obstacle

Substitutes "special difficulty" with "unique obstacle", highlighting the singular and hindering aspect.

a specific problem

Replaces "difficulty" with "problem", focusing on a defined issue.

a notable impediment

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "special difficulty" with "notable impediment" to indicate a significant hindrance.

a significant hurdle

Replaces "difficulty" with "hurdle", suggesting an obstacle that needs to be overcome.

a major complication

Substitutes "special difficulty" with "major complication", emphasizing the complex nature of the issue.

a tough predicament

Replaces "special difficulty" with "tough predicament", highlighting the challenging and awkward situation.

an unusual setback

Changes "difficulty" to "setback", focusing on the hindrance to progress and using "unusual" to convey the special nature.

a peculiar snag

Uses "peculiar snag" instead of "special difficulty" to suggest an unexpected and troublesome problem.

a tricky issue

Replaces "special difficulty" with "tricky issue", focusing on the delicate and complex nature of the matter.

FAQs

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

Use "a special difficulty" to introduce a specific challenge or obstacle. For example, "The project presented "a special difficulty" due to the tight deadlines and limited resources".

What can I say instead of "a special difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "a particular challenge", "a unique obstacle", or "a specific problem depending on the context".

Is it redundant to say "a special difficulty"?

While "difficulty" inherently implies a challenge, "special" emphasizes that the difficulty is unique or particularly noteworthy. It isn't necessarily redundant if the context warrants highlighting the distinctive nature of the problem.

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

"A special difficulty" refers to a problem that is unique or distinct in some way, while "a major difficulty" indicates a problem that is significant in scale or impact. The former is about uniqueness, the latter is about magnitude.