came across a problem

USAGE SUMMARY

'came across a problem' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to having encountered a difficulty or an obstacle. For example, "While researching the topic, I came across a problem that I didn't know how to solve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But we soon came across a problem: the instructions were incomplete.

The New Yorker

When commercial beer making started in the 19th century in Europe, brewmasters came across a problem similar to those experienced by the Andean brewers, that the beer spoiled easily.

The New York Times - Science

While my experience with the app was pretty smooth, I twice came across a problem where, while I could scroll up and down through the page, I couldn't actually click any element of the page's layout.

TechCrunch

On recent assignment in Libya, my friend Rana came across a problem, a financial problem.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But it is also incumbent on us, when we do come across a problem with a longstanding customer, to trust their account of the situation and do whatever we can to put the situation right".

The New York Times

Yet when they come across a problem they cannot explain, their weak comprehension of investors' behaviour leaves them at a loss.One example is to be found in the differences between the short and long terms.

The Economist

I will come across a problem I simply find fascinating to think about, and sometimes that leads to a solution," the professor said in an interview Monday.

Los Angeles Times

7. Don't start a company for the sake of starting a company Akshay shared how companies are started when founders come across a problem that they want to solve and have an innovative solution to solve it.

Huffington Post

Early Challenges - Understanding Academia & Industry While Grace knew that they had come across a problem that was big enough and exciting enough to tackle, there were multiple challenges early on that the duo faced trying to understand the complex intersection between academia and industry.

Huffington Post

In practice however, I came across a few problems, to which there weren't immediate solutions.

TechCrunch

As with multiplication, when you come across a division problem that's too difficult to work out mentally or with a times table, you have the option of solving with a long-form approach.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "came across a problem", ensure the context clearly indicates the nature and relevance of the problem to the overall situation being described.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who discovered the problem. Instead of "A problem was came across", specify "We "came across a problem"" to maintain clarity and directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came across a problem" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of encountering an obstacle or difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used to describe an experience of stumbling upon an issue unexpectedly.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "came across a problem" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted way to describe encountering a difficulty or obstacle unexpectedly. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in written English, highlighting its role in conveying the incidental discovery of an issue. While it appears across various contexts, including news, scientific articles, and general writing, its frequency is moderate. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure clarity by specifying who encountered the problem and the nature of the issue. Alternative phrasings, such as "encountered an issue" or "faced a difficulty", can offer a more formal tone, while "ran into a snag" provides a more casual option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered an issue

Replaces "came across a problem" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the act of encountering.

faced a difficulty

Emphasizes the act of confronting a challenging situation, rather than just finding it.

met with an obstacle

Presents the problem as something actively encountered, similar to facing a difficulty.

ran into a snag

Uses a more informal term ("snag") to describe the problem encountered.

stumbled upon a challenge

Conveys the idea of unexpectedly finding a difficult situation.

discovered a complication

Highlights the finding of something that makes a situation more complex.

was presented with a problem

Shifts the focus to the problem being presented to someone, rather than actively found.

identified a hurdle

Focuses on recognizing and naming the problem as a barrier to progress.

unearthed an issue

Suggests the problem was hidden or not immediately apparent, requiring some uncovering.

experienced a setback

Highlights the negative impact of encountering the problem, suggesting a delay or reversal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "came across a problem" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "encountered an issue" or "faced a difficulty", which convey a similar meaning with a slightly elevated vocabulary.

What's a more casual way to say "came across a problem"?

In informal contexts, you might say you "ran into a snag" or "hit a bump in the road", which are more colloquial ways of expressing that you encountered an issue.

Is it correct to say "came across to a problem" instead of "came across a problem"?

No, the correct phrasing is "came across a problem". The preposition "to" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context. The phrase "came across" already implies encountering something directly.

What does "came across a problem" imply about the problem itself?

The phrase suggests that the problem was encountered unexpectedly or incidentally, rather than being actively sought out. It implies a sense of discovery or unplanned interaction with the issue.