after much trouble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after much trouble" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where significant difficulty or effort was encountered before achieving a result. Example: "After much trouble, we finally managed to fix the issue with the software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The New Yorker, February 5 , 1927P. 17 Reinhardt Galleries assemble an exhibition of famous paintings after much trouble.

The New Yorker

By Sproehnle Crouse The New Yorker, February 5 , 1927P. 17 Reinhardt Galleries assemble an exhibition of famous paintings after much trouble.

The New Yorker

The EU runs the peacekeeping force in Bosnia and, after much trouble finding troops and equipment, is sending 3,700 soldiers to Chad to police the border with Darfur.It has also set up a rotation of battlegroups quick-reaction forces of abattlegroups quick-reaction

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

AFTER having so much trouble at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, because of snow, rain and slush, the last thing CBS needed was a problem with a swoosh.

The New York Times

After having so much trouble containing the Rockets in the first half, the Nets pressured them into shooting 14 for 41 in the second.

The New York Times - Sports

(Donald Rumsfeld was thrown overboard only after he became too much trouble politically).

The New Yorker

After causing Saracens as much trouble as anybody in the first half, Quins were blown away in the second, Skelton and Vunipola to the fore indeed.

The Guardian - Sport

It certainly was on Thursday when he presented a gentle return catch to Sabbir Rahman after bobbling along without much trouble.

The Guardian - Sport

But the ubiquitous "Fiddler" has also, revival after revival, never had much trouble finding its inner schlock.

Los Angeles Times

"I have never had much trouble talking, after all," Hewlett drily notes.

The Guardian

Besides, the most remarkable thing about the story is not that one lineage of fish invented copulation but that they gave it up after a while as too much trouble.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after much trouble" when you want to emphasize the difficulties encountered before achieving a specific outcome. It adds weight to the accomplishment.

Common error

Avoid using "after much trouble" when the difficulty is minimal or expected. Overusing it can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It describes the circumstances surrounding an action, emphasizing the difficulty experienced before the action could be completed. Ludwig highlights that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

16%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after much trouble" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to emphasize difficulties encountered before achieving a result. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While relatively infrequent, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the level of difficulty warrants its inclusion to avoid diminishing its impact. Alternatives such as ""after a great deal of effort"" or ""with considerable difficulty"" may be appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after a great deal of effort

Emphasizes the effort expended more explicitly.

with considerable difficulty

Highlights the level of difficulty experienced.

following significant complications

Focuses on the presence of complications.

not without difficulty

Uses a double negative to indirectly state the presence of trouble.

after overcoming several obstacles

Highlights the act of overcoming challenges.

only with great difficulty

Stresses the magnitude of the difficulty involved.

after a hard struggle

Emphasizes the adversarial nature of the effort.

with much ado

Implies unnecessary or excessive activity and trouble.

following a tortuous process

Highlights the complexity and difficulty of the process.

after jumping through hoops

Uses an idiom to describe a series of difficult requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "after much trouble" in a sentence?

You can use "after much trouble" to indicate that something was achieved only after experiencing significant difficulties. For example, "After much trouble, the team finally completed the project".

What are some alternatives to "after much trouble"?

Alternatives include "after a great deal of effort", "with considerable difficulty", or "following significant complications". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "after much trouble" formal or informal?

"After much trouble" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "after much trouble" and "easily"?

"After much trouble" implies a difficult process, while "easily" suggests the opposite. They represent contrasting experiences in achieving a result.