cause an obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause an obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors or situations that hinder progress or create difficulties in achieving a goal. Example: "The unexpected weather conditions may cause an obstacle to our outdoor event plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

All these reasons cause an obstacle to expand the application of the existing tri-color filters in the security area.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Many accidents are caused when an obstacle appears in a driver's blind-spot - an area not visible in the vehicle's mirrors.

BBC

"'If y'all go into that store, you're going to cause a problem.'" Despite such obstacles, Calais Sr developed a successful Quarter Horse training career, twice winning the prestigious Breeders' Futurity.

The Guardian - Sport

There studies also combined the stepping over gait (eg, observations of targets in contact with three-dimensional or visual obstacles that can cause a fall) with a cognitive task (eg, the n-back test or reaction task).

Clinical interventions in aging

The alignment may cause a collision with the robots/obstacles (which are static in nature) in the environment.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Sir John Holmes, who held the post between 2001 and 2007, said: "Although it's a very difficult problem and causes a lot of obstacles and complications, it is a relatively small part of a much bigger problem which is the number of people trying to get illegally into Europe from the Middle East and North Africa".

Huffington Post

Nucleosomes cause a considerable obstacle to elongating RNA polymerase [ 29] and their presence in ORFs has been shown to be important for suppressing aberrant intra-genic transcripts, which might be expected to interfere with the transcription of bona fide gene transcripts [ 30, 31].

BMC Genomics

Controls are simplified by being context-sensitive; the "upwards movement" button will cause Faith to traverse an obstacle by passing over it (i.e., by jumping, vaulting, climbing, or grabbing set pieces like zip-lines) while the "downwards movement" button will cause her to perform other manoeuvres like sliding, rolling, or crouching.

Wikipedia

Moreover, the 'blockiness'-like seen in the higher IMFs does not cause any serious obstacle since they usually are not the focus of the image processing procedures.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

If the autophagic degradative pathway is faulty, an accumulation of damaged proteins as aggregated deposits takes place that may cause anatomical obstacles to physiological processes [ 1].

BioMed Research International

The path that worms took was fairly straight, though obstacles (vegetation) often caused a change in direction.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause an obstacle", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being hindered or made difficult. For example, specify what progress, plan, or goal is being obstructed.

Common error

Avoid using "cause an obstacle" in overly simple sentences where a more direct verb like 'hinder' or 'block' would be more concise and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause an obstacle" functions as a causative expression, indicating that something is responsible for creating a hindrance or difficulty. It serves to highlight the source of the obstruction. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cause an obstacle" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe something that creates a hindrance or difficulty. Although relatively rare in occurrence, Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's employed across various contexts, including science, news, and general writing, maintaining a neutral tone. Alternatives like "present a barrier" or "pose a challenge" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using the phrase, clarity regarding what is being hindered is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create a hindrance

Uses 'hindrance' instead of 'obstacle', slightly more formal.

present a barrier

Employs 'barrier' to represent a physical or metaphorical obstruction.

pose a challenge

Substitutes 'obstacle' with 'challenge', focusing on the difficulty presented.

impede progress

Replaces the noun phrase with a verb phrase indicating the action of slowing down advancement.

obstruct advancement

Similar to 'impede progress', but with a slightly different choice of words.

generate complications

Focuses on the resulting difficulties rather than the obstacle itself.

foster impediments

A more formal and less common way of saying 'create obstacles'.

give rise to difficulties

Emphasizes the origin or source of the problems.

be a stumbling block

Uses a more idiomatic expression for an obstacle.

set back progress

Highlights the delaying effect of the obstacle.

FAQs

How can I use "cause an obstacle" in a sentence?

You can use "cause an obstacle" to describe something that creates difficulty or hinders progress. For instance, "Unexpected costs can cause an obstacle to completing the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "cause an obstacle"?

You can use alternatives like "present a barrier", "pose a challenge", or "impede progress" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "cause an obstacle" or "create an obstacle"?

Both "cause an obstacle" and "create an obstacle" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis. "Cause" implies a consequence, while "create" suggests a more direct action.

What is the difference between "cause an obstacle" and "present an obstacle"?

"Cause an obstacle" implies that something leads to the creation of an obstacle. "Present an obstacle", on the other hand, suggests that the obstacle already exists and is now being brought to attention or encountered.