a tremendous difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tremendous difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a significant challenge or obstacle that one is facing. Example: "The team encountered a tremendous difficulty in meeting the project deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"There's a tremendous difficulty tracing cellphone calls, and we were in the midst of investigating two homicides, so we were stretched beyond belief".

The New York Times

Gayeton told Salon in 2014, "I think the climate movement has had a tremendous difficulty in the past 10 years because most people--most general people--have term fatigue.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I had a family with a child who had tremendous difficulty waiting in lines, waiting for anything," said Dr. Balamuth.

The New York Times - Travel

"This was a decision that was made with tremendous difficulty, to publicize it," Ms. Picard said.

The New York Times

Trans people also have tremendous difficulty accessing affirming care for a multitude of health ailments, HIV included.

Vice

Existing capacitive force sensors mainly rely on ingenious but complex structural designs, posing tremendous difficulty in fabrication and usually featuring a fixed sensitivity.

Extreme Mechanics Letters

Russia had tremendous difficulty in perceiving let alone accepting Ukraine as an independent country: it viewed Ukraine as an integral part of the Russian realm and even considered Ukrainians to be virtually the same people as Russians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It has to win its play-in over a pretty tough Boise State team, but its four guard look would represent tremendous difficulty for Kansas State.

Huffington Post

And if an egg were to hatch, Mr. Blakeman wrote, Violet would have tremendous difficulty feeding her young.

The New York Times

"The peace camp has had tremendous difficulty.

The New York Times

A. Anything that has any kind of consumer halo has been having tremendous difficulty raising money.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tremendous difficulty" to emphasize the magnitude of a challenge, ensuring your audience understands the seriousness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "a tremendous difficulty" when a simpler term like "a significant challenge" would suffice. Overuse can dilute the impact of the phrase and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tremendous difficulty" functions as a noun phrase that describes a particularly large or impactful problem. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples show it used to describe obstacles in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tremendous difficulty" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the significance of a challenge. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, indicating its suitability for describing notable obstacles. While the phrase is not exceptionally common, using it effectively conveys the magnitude of a problem. When writing, ensure that the weight of "tremendous" is justified to avoid hyperbole, and consider alternatives like "a major challenge" or "a significant obstacle" to maintain varied and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major challenge

Replaces "tremendous" with "major", indicating a significant but potentially less overwhelming problem.

a significant obstacle

Substitutes "difficulty" with "obstacle", emphasizing the impediment aspect of the problem.

a considerable problem

Uses "considerable problem" instead of "tremendous difficulty", offering a more neutral tone.

a serious impediment

Replaces both "tremendous" and "difficulty" to highlight the hindering nature of the problem with increased formality.

a substantial setback

Shifts the focus to the negative consequence of the difficulty, framing it as a "setback".

a formidable hurdle

Implies the difficulty is like a barrier that requires significant effort to overcome.

a tough situation

Simplifies the phrase to an informal expression indicating a problematic circumstance.

a tricky issue

Replaces "difficulty" with "issue", suggesting a problem that requires careful handling.

a grave concern

Highlights the worrying aspect of the difficulty, emphasizing its potential negative impact.

a complex matter

Focuses on the intricate and complicated nature of the difficulty.

FAQs

What does "a tremendous difficulty" mean?

The phrase "a tremendous difficulty" refers to a situation presenting a very large or significant challenge.

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

You might say, "The project faced "a tremendous difficulty" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "a tremendous difficulty"?

Alternatives include "a major challenge", "a significant obstacle", or "a considerable problem".

Is "a tremendous difficulty" formal or informal?

The phrase "a tremendous difficulty" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly towards the formal side due to the word "tremendous".