a substantial hurdle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial hurdle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant obstacle or challenge that must be overcome in various contexts, such as business, personal goals, or projects. Example: "The lack of funding presents a substantial hurdle for the development of the new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

On Monday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had joined that dissent, said the Bowles decision was "a substantial hurdle to contend with".

The New York Times

A recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan, which will review the convictions, may present the Justice Department with a substantial hurdle to show the Libor submissions were sufficient to support a conviction for wire fraud.

The New York Times

Democratic voter enthusiasm has been running well below 2008 levels, indicating that this time around, Obama faces a substantial hurdle in replicating the surge in turnout that helped propel him into the White House four years ago – although there has been some improvement recently.

The New York Times

So investigators looking at conduct in 2006 and 2007, when the market for residential mortgage-backed securities was at its peak, are going to confront stale evidence and dim recollections while having to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a substantial hurdle in any case.

The New York Times

These practical constraints present a substantial hurdle in regard to performing clinical trials and ultimately for the feasibility of large-scale nebulized antibiotic therapy in daily clinical routine.

Annals of Intensive Care

The cell membrane poses a substantial hurdle to the use of pharmacologically active biomacromolecules that are not per se actively translocated into cells.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Lately, that second substantial hurdle has proven a lot easier to clear than the first.

Los Angeles Times

Video playback provided the most substantial hurdle in building a stable, reliable application.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Two late goals by Yaya Touré settled that, giving City a 2-0 victory at fifth-place Newcastle and vaulting it over the final substantial hurdle it faced in the title race in the Premier League.

The New York Times

The most substantial hurdle remaining is the continued government ownership, analysts said.

The New York Times

Perhaps more commonplace are substantial differences in codon usage and tRNA abundances driven by varying genome nucleotide compositions that may also create a significant hurdle to successful expression and positive selection following transfer [ 26].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantial hurdle" when you want to emphasize that an obstacle is significant and will require considerable effort to overcome. It is suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial hurdle" in very informal or casual settings. A more straightforward phrase like "a big problem" might be more appropriate in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial hurdle" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing obstacles in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial hurdle" is a phrase used to describe a significant obstacle or challenge. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in English writing. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. Alternatives include "a significant obstacle" or "a major impediment". When writing, consider the formality of the context to determine if this phrase is appropriate. Overusing it in casual settings might sound unnatural. Remember it conveys that overcoming an obstacle will require considerable effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant obstacle

Emphasizes the importance and impact of the obstacle.

a major impediment

Highlights the hindering or obstructive nature of the barrier.

a considerable challenge

Focuses on the difficulty and effort required to overcome the situation.

a tough barrier

Uses more informal language to describe a difficult obstacle.

a formidable obstacle

Emphasizes the scale and difficulty in overcoming an obstacle.

a major stumbling block

Highlights the potential for the obstacle to cause failure or delay.

a difficult task

Shifts focus from obstacle to effort required.

a key challenge

Highlights a challenge of core importance.

a critical problem

Focuses more on the problematic nature of the impediment.

a big ask

Informal way to say that a task or request is difficult or demanding.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantial hurdle" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantial hurdle" to describe significant obstacles. For example: "The lack of funding is "a substantial hurdle" to completing the project."

What are some alternatives to "a substantial hurdle"?

Alternatives include "a significant obstacle", "a major impediment", or "a considerable challenge", depending on the specific context.

Is "a substantial hurdle" formal or informal?

"A substantial hurdle" is considered more formal and is appropriate for professional or academic writing. Less formal options exist for casual conversation.

What makes "a substantial hurdle" different from "a minor issue"?

"A substantial hurdle" indicates a significant problem that needs attention, while "a minor issue" refers to a small, easily resolved problem. The key difference is the magnitude and impact of the challenge.