contained a problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contained a problem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an issue or error that was found within a particular context, such as a document, system, or process. Example: "The report contained a problem that needed to be addressed before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After the first half was over, I was once again placed in a different group of five students; Being told to act as if we were part of a student council in college, each group was given a sheet of paper that contained a problem that must be resolved by us as a team and under the fairest terms possible.

Huffington Post

Experiment #2 contained a problem where the task time window for completion was randomly generated.

Cognitive Computation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The commonly used approach to implementing the connecting process, multicast grouping, contains a problem that is NP-complete.

Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory

Lastly, there is problem framing, which will be the final product of this process, containing a problem statement, a vision for the future, and the commitments that must be made in order to accomplish this.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Analysts say the crackdowns on corruption are aimed at bringing greater accountability to all levels of government, and at containing a problem that some consider so widespread that it could undermine support for the ruling Communist Party, led by President Hu Jintao.

The New York Times

This section contains a problem composed by an integro-differential equation with some functional boundary conditions, whose solvability is proved in presence of nonordered lower and upper solutions.

Boundary Value Problems

The subsequent header row contains a problem name and a number of workers appearing in the given variant of the environment.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

The Institute of Medicine report on the CPR [ 11] recommends that it contain a problem list that specifies the patient's medical problems and the status of each.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The first edition, published in German in 1896, contained Symonds's A Problem in Greek Ethics and "Soldier Love".

English Studies

In this study, we present an investigation of the first assignment in level five, which contained a combination story problem.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Each case contained a different clinical problem of a different level of complexity (Fig.  1).

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contained a problem", ensure the context clearly identifies what is containing the problem. For instance, specify if it's a report, system, or process.

Common error

Avoid using "contained a problem" without specifying the nature of the problem. Vague statements weaken the impact of your message. Instead, be precise about what the problem is for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contained a problem" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that something encompassed or included an issue. Ludwig shows examples in various contexts, highlighting its utility across different domains.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contained a problem" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate the presence of an issue within something. Though Ludwig's examples reveal a relatively rare usage, it's appropriate for a neutral to formal register in science, news, and academic settings. The phrase serves to inform and denote that something encompassed an issue. To enhance clarity, it's essential to specify the context and nature of the problem. Several alternatives, such as "presented an issue" or "involved a complication", offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presented an issue

This alternative focuses on the act of introducing or displaying the issue, rather than the issue being within something.

involved a complication

This alternative highlights that the problem adds complexity or difficulty.

harbored a difficulty

This alternative implies that the problem was kept secret or hidden within something.

included a challenge

This alternative emphasizes that the problem presents something that needs effort to overcome.

exhibited a fault

This alternative suggests that the problem is a defect or flaw.

entailed an obstacle

This alternative indicates the problem presents a barrier or impediment.

manifested a flaw

This alternative emphasizes that the problem is a visible imperfection.

posed a dilemma

This alternative suggests that the problem requires a difficult choice between alternatives.

demonstrated a weakness

This alternative suggests the problem revealed a deficiency.

carried a burden

This alternative implies the problem is a source of stress or worry.

FAQs

How can I use "contained a problem" in a sentence?

You can use "contained a problem" to describe something that had an issue within it, such as "The software update "contained a problem" that caused the system to crash".

What can I say instead of "contained a problem"?

Alternatives to "contained a problem" include phrases like "presented an issue", "involved a complication", or "exhibited a fault".

Is it better to say "contained a problem" or "had a problem"?

Both "contained a problem" and "had a problem" are grammatically correct. "Contained a problem" is often used when the problem is within a specific document or system, whereas "had a problem" is more general.

What's the difference between "contained a problem" and "included a problem"?

"Contained a problem" implies the problem was an inherent part of the whole, while "included a problem" suggests it was one of several elements. For example, the report "contained a problem", while the project "included a problem" with logistics.