apparent difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apparent difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe challenges or obstacles that seem obvious or evident in a particular situation. Example: "Despite the apparent difficulties in the project, the team remained optimistic about their chances of success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The tale might beg credulity, given Amanullah's apparent difficulties in distinguishing between Afghans and Iranians.

The New York Times

Despite the apparent difficulties in finding a successor, the label can only tread water for so long.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the backward-seated position, forces up to 35 g can be tolerated with few apparent difficulties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Judge Pickering's racist past, his problematic present and his apparent difficulties with the truth have not been enough to persuade the president to reel in this nomination.

The New York Times

The local parliamentary elections held in many parts of the country in 2011 proved to be a major contributor to the apparent difficulties of the government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This same embarrassing male groupiedom, which also led him not to wash the treasured Richards vomit from his jacket, may have the same root which leads to his apparent difficulties with girls, especially when it comes to writing about them.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Valence bond theory runs into an apparent difficulty with CH4.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"She saw that there was a simplicity to Eliot in spite of the apparent difficulty.

The Guardian - Books

Piazza played tonight with no apparent difficulty, aside from the fact that the Braves' leadoff hitter, Jesse Garcia, stole second base.

The New York Times - Sports

A spokesperson for the board said the apparent difficulty or ease of a paper is taken into account.

The Guardian

However, the apparent difficulty motivated Bondi, Hoyle, and Gold to offer the alternative theory of steady state cosmology in 1948.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "apparent difficulties", ensure the context clarifies whether these difficulties are genuinely significant or merely superficial. This avoids misleading your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "apparent difficulties" when the challenges are clearly substantial and proven. This weakens your argument and could be perceived as dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apparent difficulties" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "apparent" modifies the noun "difficulties". It serves to describe challenges or problems that are outwardly visible or seemingly present. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "apparent difficulties" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe challenges or problems that seem evident but may not be as significant as they appear. According to Ludwig AI, it is often found in news, encyclopedic, and scientific sources. When using "apparent difficulties", it's important to consider whether you want to express that these problems are just superficial or might be more serious than they initially seem. Alternatives like "seeming challenges" or "evident obstacles" can be used to subtly shift the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeming challenges

Replaces "difficulties" with "challenges" and "apparent" with "seeming", focusing on the perceived nature of the obstacles.

ostensible challenges

Similar to "seeming challenges", using "ostensible" provides the same meaning but replaces difficulties with challenges.

ostensible problems

Substitutes "difficulties" with "problems" and "apparent" with "ostensible", emphasizing the surface-level observation of issues.

evident obstacles

Uses "evident" in place of "apparent" and "obstacles" instead of "difficulties", stressing the clear visibility of impediments.

surface-level hardships

Replaces "difficulties" with "hardships" and describes them as "surface-level", indicating difficulties perceived at first glance.

superficial setbacks

Substitutes "difficulties" with "setbacks" and "apparent" with "superficial", implying that the difficulties might not be as significant as they appear.

perceived limitations

Uses "perceived" instead of "apparent" and "limitations" in place of "difficulties", highlighting the subjective nature of the perceived constraints.

outward struggles

Replaces "difficulties" with "struggles" and "apparent" with "outward", focusing on the visible manifestations of difficulty.

presumed adversities

Substitutes "difficulties" with "adversities" and "apparent" with "presumed", suggesting that the difficulties are assumed rather than definitively known.

supposed impediments

Uses "supposed" instead of "apparent" and "impediments" instead of "difficulties", implying a questioning of whether the difficulties are real or just perceived.

FAQs

How can I use "apparent difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "apparent difficulties" to describe challenges that seem obvious but might not be as severe as they appear. For example: "Despite the "apparent difficulties", the project team remained optimistic."

What's the difference between "apparent difficulties" and "obvious challenges"?

"Apparent difficulties" suggests the challenges are perceived but might not be real, while "obvious challenges" implies the difficulties are real and easily noticeable.

Are there synonyms for "apparent difficulties"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "seeming challenges", "evident obstacles", or "ostensible problems" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "apparent difficulties"?

It's best to avoid using "apparent difficulties" when the challenges are known to be severe and well-documented, as it may minimize their real impact and seem dismissive.