an ongoing puzzle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ongoing puzzle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or problem that is continuously developing or remains unresolved. Example: "The mystery of the missing artifact has become an ongoing puzzle for the investigators."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We'd spend hours rearranging their apartments together just to get a single photo – like an ongoing puzzle.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Learning to embrace this paradox has become an ongoing life puzzle.

Vice

According to this account "online processing of body-related multisensory information in the brain is more like ongoing puzzle solving of which the normally experienced embodied self-location is just a fragile and only temporarily stable solution, which is a setting that is naturally suited for the Bayesian approach to sensory information processing" [17].

Plosone

And then we provide an answer to one of the ongoing puzzles of investing: how to buy bonds without being ripped off by commission-hungry brokers or nibbled to death by fund fees (p. 224).

Forbes

WEDNESDAY'S PUZZLE — I consider Wordplay to be an ongoing cocktail party of sorts, where everyone can come to discuss the puzzle, the words contained therein, and anything — within reason — that those words might evoke.

The New York Times

It's an ongoing conversation.

Independent

It's an ongoing process.

The New York Times

It was an ongoing nightmare.

The New York Times

There's an ongoing dialogue.

Independent

"This is an ongoing situation.

Independent

The productivity puzzle that began in the 1970s persists, thanks to the apparent fizzle in productivity growth since the internet boomlet of 1996-2004 and despite what looks to many like an ongoing acceleration in technological discovery.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an ongoing puzzle", ensure the context clearly indicates a situation that is not only perplexing but also continuously developing or unresolved over a period of time.

Common error

Avoid using "an ongoing puzzle" to describe a simple one-time problem. The phrase implies a situation that has persisted and continues to evolve, not a static or easily resolved issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an ongoing puzzle" functions as a noun phrase, where "ongoing" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "puzzle". The article "an" indicates a general instance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12.5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12.5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an ongoing puzzle" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that effectively describes a situation or problem that is both perplexing and continuously developing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, though its frequency is relatively rare. It appears predominantly in news and media contexts, as well as scientific discussions, indicating a broad yet specific application. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates a situation that is not only perplexing but also continuously developing or unresolved over a period of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a continuing mystery

Replaces "puzzle" with "mystery", focusing on the enigmatic aspect.

a persistent problem

Substitutes "puzzle" with "problem", emphasizing the troublesome nature.

an unresolved issue

Replaces "puzzle" with "issue", highlighting the lack of resolution.

a continuing challenge

Changes "puzzle" to "challenge", stressing the difficulty involved.

a long-standing question

Replaces both "ongoing" and "puzzle" to focus on the duration and interrogative nature of the issue.

an enduring enigma

Substitutes "ongoing" with "enduring" and "puzzle" with "enigma", adding a sense of mystery and sophistication.

a perennial conundrum

Replaces "ongoing" with "perennial" and "puzzle" with "conundrum", suggesting a recurring and perplexing problem.

a recurring riddle

Changes "ongoing" to "recurring" and "puzzle" to "riddle", focusing on the puzzling and repetitive aspect.

a lasting difficulty

Replaces "ongoing" with "lasting" and "puzzle" with "difficulty", emphasizing the enduring and problematic nature.

a never-ending quest

Substitutes "puzzle" with "quest", suggesting a continuous search for a solution.

FAQs

How can I use "an ongoing puzzle" in a sentence?

You can use "an ongoing puzzle" to describe a situation or problem that is continuously developing or remains unresolved. For example: "The mystery surrounding the missing artifacts is "an ongoing puzzle" for investigators."

What can I say instead of "an ongoing puzzle"?

You can use alternatives like "a continuing mystery", "a persistent problem", or "an unresolved issue" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a ongoing puzzle" instead of "an ongoing puzzle"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, while "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. Since "ongoing" starts with a vowel sound, the correct form is ""an ongoing puzzle"".

What's the difference between "an ongoing puzzle" and "a simple puzzle"?

"An ongoing puzzle" implies that the puzzle has existed for some time and is still in progress, whereas "a simple puzzle" refers to a puzzle that is easy to solve and doesn't necessarily have a long history.