are encountering obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are encountering obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges or difficulties that individuals or groups are facing in a particular situation or process. Example: "As we progress with the project, we are encountering obstacles that require immediate attention to ensure timely completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the same time, we have been encountering obstacles and challenges along our democratization process".

The New York Times

In a rare acknowledgment of difficulty, the Iranian oil minister, Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh, told the ministry's news agency, Shana, recently that Iran was encountering obstacles in financing oil projects.

The New York Times

But her big-dollar fund-raising apparatus that was once the envy of the political world is encountering obstacles as many of those in its regular networks of donors have reached the maximum on their personal contributions or grown tired of the relentless press for donations.

The New York Times

Out at sea, workers are encountering unexpected obstacles.

The New York Times

And lawyers say they are encountering other unusual obstacles, too.

The New York Times

But candidates for governor are encountering an unexpected obstacle this time around: the race for United States Senate.

The New York Times

(h) Meet with private sector partners, as appropriate, to review Power Africa projects and activities, and to solicit input regarding technical, policy, financial or political, obstacles that partners are encountering in the energy sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa

Cornell University

It can even change the route half-way through if unexpected obstacles are encountered.

BBC

Obstacles are encountered frequently due the power that authorities hold over any changes in the level of electricity pricing.

Chemistry Central Journal

A number of obstacles are encountered in the application of marginal cost pricing.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

They should note the following: - A clear vision is required to guide the process, particularly when reforms are taking place on many fronts or when obstacles are encountered.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are encountering obstacles" when you want to convey that a process or project is currently facing challenges that hinder progress. Ensure the context clearly defines what those obstacles are.

Common error

Avoid using "are encountering obstacles" in a passive voice construction where the subject experiencing the obstacles is unclear or missing. Always specify who is facing the challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are encountering obstacles" functions as a verb phrase indicating a present continuous action. It describes the state of actively facing challenges or difficulties. Ludwig's analysis confirms its use in describing ongoing impediments.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are encountering obstacles" effectively conveys that someone or something is currently facing difficulties. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase across various contexts. While there are no exact matches found in the provided examples, semantically similar phrases like "are facing difficulties" or "are experiencing challenges" can be used as alternatives. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the obstacles and who is encountering them. The usage is primarily informative, and the register is neutral, making it suitable for professional and news contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are facing difficulties

Replaces "encountering obstacles" with a more general term for problems.

are experiencing challenges

Substitutes "encountering obstacles" with a focus on the experience of difficulties.

are running into problems

Uses a more informal and direct expression for facing issues.

are meeting with resistance

Implies opposition or difficulty from an external force.

are up against hurdles

Replaces "obstacles" with "hurdles", suggesting challenges that need to be overcome.

are grappling with issues

Emphasizes the struggle and effort involved in dealing with problems.

are navigating complexities

Focuses on the intricate and complicated nature of the challenges.

are confronting setbacks

Highlights the negative impact and delays caused by the difficulties.

are dealing with impediments

Uses a more formal term, "impediments", for obstacles.

are struggling against adversity

Emphasizes the hardship and unfavorable conditions being faced.

FAQs

What does "are encountering obstacles" mean?

The phrase "are encountering obstacles" means that someone or something is currently facing difficulties or challenges that are hindering progress or success. It implies an active process of facing these impediments.

What can I say instead of "are encountering obstacles"?

You can use alternatives like "are facing difficulties", "are experiencing challenges", or "are running into problems" depending on the context.

How do I use "are encountering obstacles" in a sentence?

Use "are encountering obstacles" to describe a situation where progress is being impeded. For example: "During the project implementation, we are encountering obstacles related to budget constraints."

Is there a difference between "are encountering obstacles" and "have encountered obstacles"?

"Are encountering obstacles" implies that the challenges are current and ongoing, while "have encountered obstacles" suggests that the challenges were faced at some point in the past, but may or may not still be present. The former describes a present state, and the latter a past experience.