a substantial obstacle for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial obstacle for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant barrier or challenge that affects someone or something in a particular context. Example: "The new regulations present a substantial obstacle for small businesses trying to compete in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

That buy-in requirement could present a substantial obstacle for aid and philanthropy, since nonprofits and governments tend to be risk averse and slow to adopt innovative solutions.

Stanford University

It is pointed out that the neutral current sheet of the IMF does not represent a substantial obstacle for energetic charged particles.

Advances in Space Research

In real simultaneous applications, like event-related fMRI study, artifacts induced by MRI events on EEG traces represent a substantial obstacle for a right analysis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Law-abiding aliens might wish to return to their home country, for instance, but the strained relationship caused by the difficult repatriation talks might prove to be a substantial obstacle for these aliens as well.

The New York Times

"This poses a substantial obstacle for business in China, especially when considered alongside the concerns over I.P.R. enforcement and de facto technology transfer requirements," the chamber said, referring to weak enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The New York Times

Sanders's support among white voters has helped make him competitive in those first two overwhelmingly white states, but his mixed support among African American and Hispanic voters, who make up a larger portion of the electorate in states with later contests, creates a substantial obstacle for him to overcome.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

However, the written style of scientific papers represents a substantial obstacle that needs to be overcome for such 'automated' methods to be successful.

Atherosclerosis

The Texas law "provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so," Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote for the majority.

The Washington Post

"The surgical center requirement, like the admitting-privileges requirement, provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so," Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote for the majority.

The Washington Post

The Texas law, Breyer wrote, "provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so".

Huffington Post

The Supreme Court, in a 5-3 opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer, gave great weight to this and other findings by Yeakel -- methodically concluding that the law "provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an undue burden on their constitutional right to do so".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing. While "a substantial obstacle for" is suitable for formal contexts, a less formal alternative might be more appropriate for casual communication.

Common error

Avoid overusing "a substantial obstacle for" when a simpler term like "challenge" or "difficulty" would suffice. Overstating the obstacle can weaken your overall argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial obstacle for" functions as a noun phrase, specifically identifying something that hinders progress or achievement. It highlights the significant impact of the obstacle. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a substantial obstacle for" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies a significant impediment or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the examples gathered demonstrate its use across various contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. While the phrase is not extremely common, it is certainly appropriate when a writer wishes to emphasize the impactful nature of an obstacle. Alternatives like "a significant impediment to" or "a major challenge for" can be used to vary sentence structure. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure that the subject experiencing the obstacle is clearly defined to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant impediment to

Replaces 'obstacle' with 'impediment' and 'for' with 'to', focusing on the act of hindering progress.

a major challenge for

Substitutes 'substantial obstacle' with 'major challenge', emphasizing difficulty.

a considerable hurdle for

Replaces 'obstacle' with 'hurdle', suggesting something that must be overcome.

a formidable barrier to

Uses 'formidable barrier' instead of 'substantial obstacle', highlighting the strength of the impediment.

a serious difficulty for

Emphasizes the severity of the problem using 'serious difficulty'.

a tough challenge for

Replaces 'substantial' with 'tough', indicating a difficult but potentially surmountable obstacle.

a key impediment for

Uses 'key impediment' instead of 'substantial obstacle', focusing on its importance.

a major stumbling block for

Replaces 'obstacle' with 'stumbling block', indicating something that causes one to hesitate or fail.

a considerable encumbrance for

Uses 'encumbrance' to highlight a burden or impediment.

a significant disadvantage for

Highlights how something puts someone in a weaker position.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial obstacle for" to describe a significant barrier that hinders progress or achievement. For example, "Lack of funding is a substantial obstacle for this research project".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial obstacle for"?

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

Is there a difference between "a substantial obstacle for" and "a significant obstacle for"?

While both phrases are similar, "substantial" implies a greater magnitude or impact than "significant". "A substantial obstacle for" suggests a more considerable impediment.

When is it appropriate to use "a substantial obstacle for" in writing?

Use "a substantial obstacle for" when you want to emphasize the significant and impactful nature of a barrier. It's appropriate in formal writing, reports, and when conveying the seriousness of a challenge.