cause a lot of difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause a lot of difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or action that creates significant challenges or obstacles. Example: "The unexpected changes in the project timeline will cause a lot of difficulty for the team in meeting the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would cause a lot of trouble.

WikiHow

The strike is causing a lot of difficulties for a small businessman like me.

BBC

This caused a lot of difficulties in food preparation especially when it rained.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

This causes a lot of difficulties in selecting effective in vivo treatment for actinomycetoma in man and animals.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Another example, "if you don't know like Alt and C is copying and Alt and V is pasting, (it takes) for a lot of people it causes a lot of difficulties" (FG2).

BMJ Open

It caused a lot of trouble".

Independent

I've caused a lot of trouble.

The New Yorker

"They've caused a lot of trouble".

The New York Times

"The golf tournament will cause a lot of traffic with people trying to get to the course and a lot of other difficulties," Mr. Branco said.

The New York Times

That will cause a lot of disquiet.

The Guardian

This would cause a lot of problems.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause a lot of difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being affected by the difficulty. Be specific about the consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "cause a lot of difficulty" without specifying the nature of the difficulty. Instead of saying "The change caused a lot of difficulty", specify what type of difficulty it caused, such as "The change caused a lot of logistical difficulties".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause a lot of difficulty" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "cause" is the main verb, and "a lot of difficulty" serves as the direct object. It expresses the action of initiating or creating challenging circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cause a lot of difficulty" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to describe actions or situations that lead to significant problems or challenges. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is usable in written English. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, its formality depends on the context. To improve clarity, specify the type of difficulty whenever possible. Consider using alternatives like "create significant problems" or "lead to major complications" for variety and greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create significant problems

Replaces "difficulty" with "problems" and "a lot of" with "significant", emphasizing the magnitude of the issues.

generate considerable trouble

Substitutes "cause" with "generate" and "difficulty" with "trouble", highlighting the act of creating the issue.

lead to major complications

Replaces "cause" with "lead to" and "difficulty" with "complications", focusing on the resulting issues and their complexity.

pose substantial challenges

Changes "cause" to "pose" and "difficulty" to "challenges", framing the situation as an obstacle to overcome.

give rise to serious obstacles

Uses "give rise to" instead of "cause" and "obstacles" instead of "difficulty", emphasizing the origin of the impediments.

result in significant setbacks

Replaces "cause" with "result in" and "difficulty" with "setbacks", highlighting the negative impact on progress.

create a multitude of issues

Replaces "a lot of" with "a multitude of" and "difficulty" with "issues", emphasizing the numerous problems arising.

provoke considerable disruption

Substitutes "cause" with "provoke" and "difficulty" with "disruption", highlighting the disturbance caused.

engender major impediments

Changes "cause" to "engender" and "difficulty" to "impediments", focusing on the creation of obstacles.

initiate substantial problems

Replaces "cause" with "initiate" and "difficulty" with "problems", emphasizing the beginning of the issues.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "cause a lot of difficulty" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "create significant problems", "lead to major complications", or "pose substantial challenges".

What are some alternatives to "cause a lot of difficulty" in informal writing?

For informal writing, you could use phrases like "create significant problems", or "result in significant setbacks" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify the type of difficulty when using "cause a lot of difficulty"?

While not always required, specifying the type of difficulty adds clarity and precision to your writing. For example, instead of "The decision caused a lot of difficulty", you could say "The decision caused a lot of logistical difficulty".

Can "cause a lot of difficulty" be used in both positive and negative contexts?

The phrase "cause a lot of difficulty" typically implies a negative consequence. It describes situations or actions that create problems or obstacles. It would be unusual to use it in a positive context.