a trivial difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trivial difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor or insignificant problem that is not expected to cause major issues. Example: "Although we encountered a trivial difficulty during the project, we were able to resolve it quickly and continue our work."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The only non-trivial difficulty comes when |∇u| ≈ 0.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In a recent television interview, Grass tried to explain why it had taken him so long to tell the truth — not a trivial question, since the Germans' difficulties in facing the truth have been a constant theme of his literary and political life.

The New Yorker

First, there are non-trivial difficulties in the alignment process [ 16], necessitating several simplifying, but reasonable assumptions.

BMC Genomics

A trivial one is that males are the ones to have difficulties mating in a confined space.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

This may seem a trivial issue in a city where so many residents face serious difficulties like poverty and health concerns.

The New York Times

With the difficulties in enriching for CSCs and their slow proliferation rates, this is not a trivial task.

Breast Cancer Research

A trivial matter?

The New York Times - Arts

A trivial pursuit?

The New York Times - Tech

That seemed a trivial concern.

The New York Times - Arts

This is a trivial matter.

The New York Times

This was neither a trivial risk nor a trivial investment.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trivial difficulty" when you want to downplay the significance of a problem, ensuring your audience understands it won't cause major delays or complications.

Common error

Avoid using "a trivial difficulty" if the problem has the potential to escalate or cause substantial disruption. Choose more appropriate language to reflect the actual impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trivial difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, where "trivial" modifies the noun "difficulty". It serves to describe the nature of the difficulty, indicating its lack of significance. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a trivial difficulty" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a problem of minor significance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's suitable for various contexts, including news and media, and scientific writing, though its overall frequency is relatively rare. When using this phrase, ensure the difficulty genuinely warrants being described as trivial to avoid misrepresenting the situation. Alternatives such as ""a minor problem"" or ""a slight challenge"" can be considered for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor problem

Replaces "difficulty" with the more common term "problem", suggesting a slight issue.

a slight challenge

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge", framing the issue as something to be overcome, but still minor.

a small setback

Replaces the entire phrase with "a small setback", emphasizing the temporary and minor nature of the obstacle.

a negligible issue

Uses "negligible" to highlight the insignificance of the issue.

a minor inconvenience

Frames the difficulty as an "inconvenience", suggesting it's more bothersome than a serious problem.

an insignificant obstacle

Replaces "difficulty" with "obstacle" and uses "insignificant" to emphasize its unimportance.

a trifling matter

Uses "trifling" to indicate the issue is of little consequence.

a minor hiccup

Employs "hiccup" to suggest a brief and easily resolved problem.

a superficial problem

Describes the problem as "superficial", indicating it doesn't affect the core of the situation.

a petty issue

Uses "petty" to convey the small and unimportant nature of the problem.

FAQs

How can "a trivial difficulty" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "Although we encountered "a trivial difficulty" during the experiment, we managed to overcome it quickly."

What are some synonyms for "a trivial difficulty"?

Alternatives include "a minor problem", "a slight challenge", or "a negligible issue".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a trivial difficulty"?

Use it when describing a problem that is small, easily resolved, and doesn't have significant consequences. It's suitable for situations where the issue is more of an inconvenience than a serious obstacle.

Is "a trivial difficulty" the same as "a minor setback"?

While similar, "a minor setback" often implies a temporary delay or reversal, whereas "a trivial difficulty" simply indicates a small, easily managed problem that may not necessarily cause a delay.