a specific obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a specific obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular challenge or barrier that needs to be addressed or overcome. Example: "In our project, we encountered a specific obstacle that delayed our progress significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The hearing investigated a specific obstacle to widespread modifications: Investors, including pension funds and mutual funds, often hold the first mortgages.

The New York Times

Indeed, we use a Lyapunov function depending on the disturbances in order to avoid a specific obstacle in the stability analysis.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

When in trouble, its makers say HIRO will be able to access the web by itself to get information or even connect to other robots that have experience in overcoming a specific obstacle.

TechCrunch

Thus a specific obstacle to women or racialized men, who wish to transform racist and sexist institutions, is the very self-awareness racialized or sexualized persons have—a self-awareness that emerges, for example, from both side-long glances of the white privileged and the sexual objectification of women's bodies.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Officials said one specific obstacle was Iran's demand for recognition of what it views as its "right" to enrich uranium.

Los Angeles Times

As if the intensified competition between individual sports weren't enough, every sport needs to overcome a number of specific obstacles.

Forbes

Bringing these rights into the formal legal system will unleash this capital and spur growth, says Mr de Soto: an efficient, inclusive legal system preceded rapid development in every rich country.Too good to be true?Critics of Mr de Soto contend that he is selling a simplistic universal solution to many different, often culturally specific, obstacles to capitalism or sources of terrorism.

The Economist

However, a few other Kinect-based solutions focus on detecting specific obstacles such as staircases and traffic [51 53].

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Then administrations devise class-based systems that look at the specific obstacles that applicants have overcome: growing up in a neighborhood with concentrated poverty, with a single parent or in a home with few financial assets.

The New York Times

Specific obstacles have already been encountered by professionals who wish to play a full role in this domain: insufficient funding for medical evaluations and lack of access to specialized evaluations.

Archives de Pédiatrie

Women face specific obstacles in many of these areas.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing challenges in a project or endeavor, use "a specific obstacle" to clearly identify the exact barrier you are addressing. This enhances clarity and helps focus problem-solving efforts.

Common error

Avoid using "a specific obstacle" when the barrier is actually a collection of related issues. Ensure that what you're calling "a specific obstacle" is indeed a single, identifiable impediment, not a broad category of problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a specific obstacle" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a particular challenge or barrier, contributing to the clarity and focus of the statement, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a specific obstacle" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for clearly identifying a particular challenge or barrier, as validated by Ludwig. Although its usage is relatively rare, the contexts where it appears are varied, spanning from news and media to scientific publications. The phrase serves to emphasize the precision of the issue being discussed. When writing, using "a specific obstacle" helps improve clarity and target problem-solving efforts. Alternatives such as "a particular barrier" or "a definite impediment" can be used to add variety, as suggested by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular barrier

Replaces "specific" with "particular", emphasizing the distinct nature of the impediment.

a definite impediment

Uses "definite" instead of "specific" to highlight the clear and certain nature of the obstacle.

a precise challenge

Substitutes "obstacle" with "challenge" to offer a slightly more positive framing, while maintaining the specificity.

a distinct hurdle

Replaces "specific" with "distinct" and "obstacle" with "hurdle" to convey a clear and separate challenge.

a well-defined problem

Uses "well-defined problem" to suggest that the obstacle is not only specific but also clearly understood.

a targeted issue

Emphasizes that the obstacle is an issue that requires a focused approach.

a pinpointed difficulty

Conveys that the difficulty has been precisely identified.

a concrete stumbling block

Replaces "obstacle" with "stumbling block" and "specific" with "concrete" to suggest a tangible impediment.

a specialized roadblock

Uses "roadblock" instead of "obstacle" and "specialized" instead of "specific" suggesting a unique impediment.

a limited setback

Replaces "obstacle" with "setback" and "specific" with "limited" suggesting scope is confined

FAQs

How can I use "a specific obstacle" in a sentence?

You can use "a specific obstacle" to refer to a particular challenge or barrier. For example: "In our project, we encountered "a specific obstacle" that delayed our progress."

What are some alternatives to using "a specific obstacle"?

Alternatives include "a particular barrier", "a definite impediment", or "a precise challenge", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a specific obstacle" and "a general obstacle"?

"A specific obstacle" refers to a clearly defined and identifiable impediment, while "a general obstacle" refers to a broad or undefined challenge. Specificity is key when using "a specific obstacle".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a specific obstacle"?

It is appropriate to use "a specific obstacle" when you want to emphasize that the challenge you are discussing is clearly defined and not just a vague problem. It's useful when outlining problem-solving steps or analyzing the impact of particular issues.