are struggling to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are struggling to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a difficulty or challenge someone is facing in achieving a goal or completing a task. Example: "Many students are struggling to keep up with the new curriculum this semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Consumers are struggling to cope.

The Economist

Many are struggling to feed their families.

The Economist

They are struggling to stay alive.

The New York Times

Tour agencies are struggling to stay afloat.

The Economist

Many battery makers are struggling to survive.

The Economist

The regions are struggling to get crowds".

The Guardian - Sport

"The Democrats are struggling to find one.

The Guardian

Federal regulators are struggling to keep pace.

The New York Times

They are struggling to reclaim their humanity".

The New York Times

Firms are struggling to stay competitive.

The Economist

Others are struggling to stay alive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are struggling to" to clearly convey that an entity is facing difficulties or challenges in achieving a specific goal or task.

Common error

Avoid using "are struggling to" with vague or undefined actions. Instead, specify the exact action or goal that the subject is finding difficult to achieve. For example, instead of saying "They are struggling to improve", specify "They are struggling to improve their sales figures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are struggling to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating difficulty or challenge in performing an action. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe entities facing hardships, such as "Consumers are struggling to cope" or "Businesses are struggling to operate with so little cashflow". This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

5%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are struggling to" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe challenges and difficulties. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts, most notably in news and media. While it maintains a neutral tone suitable for various registers, alternative phrases like "are finding it difficult to" or "are having trouble with" can offer subtle nuances in meaning. When using the expression, be sure to clearly specify the action or goal being pursued to provide context and clarity. Ludwig's extensive examples clearly shows the phrase is suitable for describing broad range of situations and its frequency is very high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are finding it difficult to

Focuses on the difficulty experienced, rather than the struggle itself. Emphasizes the level of ease or difficulty.

are having a hard time with

Indicates a period of difficulty or challenge. More colloquial than "are struggling to".

are facing challenges in

Highlights the challenges being confronted, rather than the act of struggling. More formal.

are having trouble with

Suggests a problem or obstacle that is causing difficulty. Slightly less formal.

are laboring to

Implies hard work and effort in the face of difficulty. Slightly more formal and less common.

are striving to

Highlights the effort being made despite the challenges. Emphasizes the attempt to overcome difficulty.

are grappling with

Suggests a more intense struggle or confrontation with a problem. Implies a more active and engaged struggle.

are battling to

Implies a fierce or intense struggle, often against strong opposition. Suggests a more adversarial situation.

are contending with

Highlights the act of dealing with difficulties or challenges. More formal and objective.

are challenged to

Indicates that someone is tested. Emphasizes the nature of the test or challenge.

FAQs

How do I use "are struggling to" in a sentence?

Use "are struggling to" to indicate that someone or something is finding it difficult to do something. For example, "Many businesses "are struggling to stay afloat" during the recession".

What's the difference between "are struggling to" and "are trying to"?

"Are struggling to" implies difficulty and potential failure, while "are trying to" simply indicates an effort is being made, without necessarily implying difficulty. For example, "They "are struggling to survive"" suggests they may not succeed, whereas "They are trying to survive" only says they are making an effort.

What can I say instead of "are struggling to"?

You can use alternatives like "are finding it difficult to", "are having trouble with", or "are facing challenges in" depending on the context.

Is "are struggling to" formal or informal?

"Are struggling to" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, consider alternatives like "are finding it difficult to" or "are contending with".