cause a difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'cause a difficulty' is correct and completely usable in written English.
It is most often used as a cause and effect statement. For example, "The lack of a clear explanation caused a difficulty in understanding the guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This will cause a difficulty among user to access SPIN interface due to dissimilar of interaction and application.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

In the process of proving the main results, the nonlocal term, which reflects the reality of the model (1.1), will cause a difficulty when we establish a lower bound estimate of the maximum modulus of the solution of the regularized problem.

Boundary Value Problems

However, it is also observed that chaotic vibrations will occur at different operating ranges that will erratically diminish the harvested power and cause a difficulty in controlling the system that is due to the unpredictability in motions of the VIV structure.

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

This can cause a difficulty spike or even result in automatic mission failure.

Wikipedia

Their anisotropy and inhomogeneity cause a difficulty in predicting their behavior during machining.

Measurement

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"After the Azerbaijan game, he didn't play for three or four weeks at his club and that always caused a difficulty," said O'Neill.

BBC

For example, the central area of a CCTV image, where is always darker than the surrounding due to the vanishing light and slight reflectance, causes a difficulty to segment correct morphologies.

Expert Systems with Applications

The distribution of all links shows a unimodal distribution, causing a difficulty to determine the threshold while implementing the reconstruction of physical connectivity.

BMC Systems Biology

If a gene contains many missing values in experiments, it is not easy to determine a precise expression value for each gene that causes a difficulty in the subsequent analysis of the regulation networks.

BMC Medical Genomics

"This is a country that is supporting some of the unacceptable violence and supporting the Syrian regime in what it is doing to the Syrian people and that would cause a great difficulty," Mr. Hague said.

The New York Times

However, the differences between surface energies of mineral clay and polymeric surfaces cause a major difficulty in the clay intercalation as well as nanocomposite processing.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause a difficulty", consider specifying the nature of the difficulty to provide more context and clarity for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "cause a difficulty" without providing context. Instead of saying "The change caused a difficulty", specify what type of difficulty it caused, such as "The change caused a difficulty in implementation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause a difficulty" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something is the reason for a problem or challenge. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, showing how different situations or actions can cause varying degrees of difficulty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cause a difficulty" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to denote the origin of a problem or challenge. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a verb phrase with the purpose of informing and explaining the source and impact of a problem. Its register is typically neutral, lending itself to various contexts, though most common in science, news, and wiki environments. When employing this phrase, specificity is key to enhance clarity for the reader. Consider alternative expressions like ""create a problem"" or ""present a challenge"" to suit specific nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create a problem

Focuses on the creation of an issue rather than a general difficulty.

present a challenge

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the situation.

pose an obstacle

Highlights the hindering aspect of the difficulty.

lead to complications

Suggests that the difficulty results in further issues.

give rise to issues

Similar to 'lead to', but with a slightly more formal tone.

generate setbacks

Focuses on the hindering effect on progress.

incur disadvantages

Highlights the negative consequences.

trigger impediments

Emphasizes the initiation of obstacles.

spark a struggle

Highlights the effort required to overcome the difficulty.

engender adversity

Indicates the creation of unfavorable conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "cause a difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "cause a difficulty" to describe a situation or action that leads to problems or challenges. For example, "The ambiguous instructions "caused a difficulty" in completing the task".

What are some alternatives to "cause a difficulty"?

Alternatives include "create a problem", "present a challenge", or "pose an obstacle". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "cause a difficulty" or "create difficulties"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "create difficulties" is more general and can imply multiple problems, while "cause a difficulty" focuses on a single, specific issue.

What's the difference between "cause a difficulty" and "lead to complications"?

"Cause a difficulty" generally refers to an immediate problem. "Lead to complications" suggests that the initial difficulty results in further, more complex issues later on.