create a difficulty for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "create a difficulty for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations where someone or something causes a challenge or obstacle for another person or entity. Example: "The new regulations may create a difficulty for small businesses trying to comply with the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This would unquestionably create a difficulty for businesses, especially at a time when food costs on menus are rising sharply due to the food crisis.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The tension between its commercial role and cultural status creates a difficulty for economic policymakers.

The Economist

"It creates a difficulty for the attorney general to exercise his discretion, and creates a prejudgment in public opinion".

The New York Times

There is a cultural differend of values and concepts (such as mana) involved in this explanation that creates a difficulty for many non-Māori in being able to fully comprehend.

Video Journal of Education and Pedagogy

Staff shortage impedes nurses' productivity directly and indirectly and creates a difficulty for both patients and nurses.

Human Resources for Health

That creates a difficulty for those who are interested in predicting function, who feel compelled to develop new methods to do so, and who want their tools to be used by others.

F1000Research

UML (Unified Modeling Language) is a collection of somewhat overlapping modeling techniques, thus creating a difficulty in establishing practical guidelines for selecting the most suitable techniques for modeling OO artifacts.

Information and Software Technology

If they cannot then phenomena of attention create a serious difficulty for any fully general attempts to explain the character of conscious experience by reference to the contents represented in it (Chalmers, 2004), although such explanations might still be viable in circumscribed domains (Speaks, 2010).

SEP

This creates a slight difficulty for our current, obsessively "X -and-"O"-focussed sports media: little of the usual talk of "adjustments" and "tweaks" seems to pertain.

The New Yorker

In the past few decades, medical science has rendered obsolete centuries of experience, tradition, and language about our mortality, and created a new difficulty for mankind: how to die.

The New Yorker

I had been asked to be an original cast member but I was very wary of soap because of the shallowness of script and the fact that one's character had no defined end, no ultimate journey – which creates a genuine difficulty for an actor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "create a difficulty for", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is causing the difficulty and the object specifies who or what is affected. This improves clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "create a difficulty for" in overly simple or obvious situations. Opt for more descriptive language to convey nuance and complexity. For example, instead of "The rain created a difficulty for the picnic", try "The rain disrupted the picnic, forcing attendees to seek shelter."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "create a difficulty for" functions as a verb phrase, where "create" is the main verb and "a difficulty for" acts as the object, specifying what is being created and for whom. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

28%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "create a difficulty for" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express that something is causing challenges or problems. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates its correctness and usability across various contexts. While versatile, consider replacing it with alternatives like "pose a challenge to" or "present an obstacle to" for more formal tones, or synonyms like "hinder" or "impede" for conciseness. As Ludwig confirms, the examples demonstrate its usage in a variety of sources, particularly science and news media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pose a challenge to

Focuses on the challenging aspect of the situation rather than explicitly stating a difficulty.

present an obstacle to

Emphasizes the obstructive nature of the situation.

cause complications for

Highlights the complex and potentially problematic results of the situation.

generate problems for

Focuses on the problems or issues that arise as a result.

complicate matters for

Indicates an increase in complexity due to the situation.

hinder the progress of

Highlights the impeding nature of the situation.

impede the advancement of

Similar to hinder, but emphasizes the forward movement being affected.

place constraints on

Focuses on the limitations imposed by the situation.

put a strain on

Emphasizes the stress or pressure caused by the situation.

be detrimental to

Focuses on the harm or damage caused by the situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "create a difficulty for" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, consider alternatives such as "pose a challenge to", "present an obstacle to", or "cause complications for" depending on the specific context.

What's a more concise way to say "create a difficulty for"?

For a more concise phrasing, you might use "hinder", "impede", or "complicate" if the context allows.

When is it appropriate to use "create a difficulty for"?

Use "create a difficulty for" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or situation is directly causing challenges or problems for someone or something. It is suitable in various contexts, from formal to informal writing.

What's the difference between "create a difficulty for" and "present a difficulty"?

"Create a difficulty for" emphasizes the action of causing the difficulty and the target being affected. "Present a difficulty", on the other hand, focuses on the existence of a difficulty, with less emphasis on the cause or the affected party. It's also appropriate to say "pose a difficulty".