a strained situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a strained situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a scenario that is tense, difficult, or under pressure, often involving conflict or stress. Example: "The negotiations reached a standstill, leaving everyone in a strained situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The two of them are soon settled in a dreary hotel room, trying to make the best of a strained situation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ackles confirmed that the story "is going to push the brothers into a bit of a more strained situation than there already is, and that will definitely come to a head a bit in this episode".

Huffington Post

A drop in projected endowment income, necessary increases in financial aid, and increases in programs planned under more optimistic assumptions combined to put the university in a financially strained situation.

Stanford University

An Israeli-Palestinian summit meeting sponsored by the United States in July 2000 failed to resolve these outstanding issues and led only to an increasingly strained situation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A strained economic situation also tends to lead to a decreased probability that woman suffering low back pain will seek medical attention [ 22].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The data collection period coincided with a strained working situation at the ANCs due to changes in the organization and implementation of a new electronically based medical record system which further increased the work load.

BMC Women's Health

(S1) S4, S5, S6, S6, and S7 also expressed their feelings about a strained financial situation, where they had to manage themselves to solve the financial needs within the household because of their husbands' unfairness in sharing their income.

Global Health Action

He's obviously happy that his very strained situation of being in this kind of no-person's land in the airport has been resolved.

Huffington Post

"More and more people are working in strained situations, and calling us in to make the strain less," Ms. Schiffer said.

The New York Times

The rookie offensive tackle KAREEM McKENZIE, who was seeing some action in short-yardage situations, has a strained calf and is out for the rest of the season.... Receiver SANTANA MOSS is listed as probable with a strained hip flexor.

The New York Times - Sports

But after Mr. Genoways was denied a position in the department, his relationship with the faculty became strained, a situation that some faculty members saw as a missed opportunity.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing interpersonal dynamics, use "a strained situation" to accurately convey tension or discomfort between individuals or groups.

Common error

While "a strained situation" is widely understood, avoid overuse in very formal writing; consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "precarious circumstances" or "delicate juncture" to convey the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a strained situation" functions as a noun phrase, where "strained" is an adjective modifying the noun "situation". It describes the condition or state of something, implying tension, difficulty, or pressure. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a strained situation" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe tense or difficult circumstances. Ludwig AI analysis, drawing from a diverse range of sources including news, scientific journals, and academic papers, confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. To enhance your writing, remember to consider context and explore synonyms like "a tense situation" or "a difficult predicament" for more specific emphasis. Understanding its proper usage and context ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tense circumstance

Replaces "situation" with "circumstance", implying a specific set of conditions affecting an event or action with heightened tension.

a difficult predicament

Substitutes "strained" with "difficult" and "situation" with "predicament", highlighting the challenging and troublesome nature of the scenario.

a fraught scenario

Substitutes "situation" with "scenario" and "strained" with "fraught", indicating a situation filled with anxiety and tension.

an uneasy state of affairs

Rephrases the entire expression to emphasize the discomfort and lack of stability in the situation.

a delicate juncture

Replaces "strained situation" with "delicate juncture", indicating a critical point requiring careful handling.

a troubled state

Emphasizes the problematic and distressed nature of the existing conditions, differing slightly in scope.

a pressured environment

Focuses on the external forces causing stress, changing the scope from a general situation to a specific environment.

a testing time

Highlights the challenging and evaluative aspect of the period, shifting the focus from a static situation to an ongoing experience.

an awkward set of circumstances

Replaces the directness of "strained" with "awkward", focusing on the social discomfort and clumsiness of the situation.

a critical phase

Shifts the emphasis to the importance and potential turning point of the situation, differing in connotation from mere strain.

FAQs

How can I use "a strained situation" in a sentence?

You can use "a strained situation" to describe a difficult or tense scenario, such as: "The negotiations led to "a strained situation" between the two companies."

What are some alternatives to "a strained situation"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a tense situation", "a difficult predicament", or "an uneasy state of affairs".

Is it appropriate to use "a strained situation" in formal writing?

Yes, "a strained situation" is generally appropriate, but for more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "precarious circumstances" or "delicate juncture" to convey greater gravity.

What distinguishes "a strained situation" from "a stressful situation"?

"A strained situation" often implies tension in relationships or resources, while "a stressful situation" focuses more on the personal or emotional pressure experienced.