being grappled with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being grappled with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a difficult issue or problem that is being dealt with or struggled against. Example: "The challenges of climate change are being grappled with by scientists and policymakers around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But too often, instead of being grappled with, this argument gets dismissed as irrelevant.

The Guardian

Such were the joys of being the governor of the RBA in a period where the whole "independent" aspect was still being grappled with.

The Guardian - Business

This work, styled with the elemental beauty of Japanese butoh, looks spectacular, but the sense of large ideas being grappled with but never resolved becomes increasingly distracting.

The Guardian

Just whose English is being taught, and for whose benefit, is one of the many questions being grappled with by researchers around the world under the applied linguistics banner of Tesol - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

The Guardian

The only problem with Penn's writing was the math: It was 650 words, outside the 250- to 500-word range re-established by the Common Application this spring — after a four-year experiment with no upper limit — but only now being grappled with as deadlines for early admissions approach next week.

The New York Times

Australia also argued the concept of "conflict of interest" itself was too hard to define, despite the issue being grappled with in many other forums: There is no clear understanding of what a conflict of interest is and it means different things to different people.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

These transgressions need to be grappled with.

The New York Times

The parties are grappling with complex issues.

The Economist

Others are grappling with dire circumstances.

The New York Times

India is grappling with this question.

The Economist

Now they are grappling with its consequences.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being grappled with" when you want to emphasize the struggle and effort involved in understanding or resolving a complex issue. This phrase is particularly effective when highlighting the difficulty of the challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "being grappled with" in contexts where a simpler term like "being addressed" or "being handled" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being grappled with" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject or issue is receiving considerable attention and effort to understand or resolve it. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is usable in written English. The phrase is commonly used to denote a challenging or intricate problem.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being grappled with" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a challenging issue that is receiving considerable effort to understand or resolve. As per Ludwig AI, this phrase is acceptable in English writing. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to underscore the difficulty and complexity associated with the subject. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse in simpler contexts, as this may sound pretentious. Alternative phrases such as "being addressed" or "being tackled" can be more appropriate depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being dealt with

This provides a straightforward way of saying a problem is being managed or handled.

being tackled

This alternative emphasizes a more active and forceful approach to handling a problem, suggesting direct engagement.

being addressed

This alternative focuses on the act of dealing with or discussing an issue, highlighting a direct approach to resolution.

being confronted

This alternative highlights the act of facing a difficult issue directly, emphasizing the challenge involved.

being handled

This suggests a general approach to dealing with something, often implying care or skill.

being worked on

This alternative emphasizes the effort being put into solving a problem, highlighting the ongoing process.

being managed

This suggests a process of controlling or handling something, often implying an ongoing effort.

being resolved

This alternative focuses on finding a solution to a problem, highlighting the aim of reaching a conclusion.

under consideration

This indicates that something is being thought about carefully, often as a preliminary stage to action.

under scrutiny

This emphasizes that something is being closely examined or investigated, often due to its importance or potential problems.

FAQs

What does "being grappled with" mean?

"Being grappled with" means that something is being actively and often laboriously dealt with or struggled against, usually referring to a complex issue or problem.

What can I say instead of "being grappled with"?

You can use alternatives like "being addressed", "being tackled", or "being handled" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "being grappled with" formal or informal?

"Being grappled with" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's appropriate for news articles, academic papers, and professional reports, but might sound overly complex in casual conversation.

How to use "being grappled with" in a sentence?

Example: "The ethical implications of artificial intelligence are "being grappled with" by researchers and policymakers alike."