creating an obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "creating an obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or situations that hinder progress or make it difficult to achieve a goal. Example: "The new regulations are creating an obstacle for small businesses trying to expand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

And the very innovation that made mortgages so easily available — an assembly line process known on Wall Street as securitization — is creating an obstacle for troubled borrowers.

The New York Times

At the eastern end of the block, near Central Park West, a giant boiler sits along the curb, creating an obstacle course for the crosstown M66 bus.

The New York Times

This technological gap is a barrier that limits agricultural productivity, creating an obstacle to both households' economic growth and nationwide food-security.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A federal judge in Ohio has ruled against a longstanding foreclosure practice, potentially creating an obstacle for lenders trying to reclaim properties from troubled borrowers and raising questions about the legal standing of investors in mortgage securities pools.

The New York Times

Not long ago, I started an experiment in self-binding: intentionally creating an obstacle to behavior I was helpless to control, much the way Ulysses lashed himself to his ship's mast to avoid succumbing to the Sirens' song.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, due to constraints in the vector structures, barcode analyses of cell populations transduced with each module needed to be performed independently in each lane of a next-generation sequencer, creating an obstacle to high-throughput experiments.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In MthK, the inner helices are bent at a conserved glycine that acts as a hinge, creating an obstacle-free path to ion passage.

Plosone

An earthquake fault running down the valley created an obstacle course for the river to drop through.

Los Angeles Times

"They create an obstacle to national unification.

The New York Times

Felled cypress and sweet gum trees create an obstacle course.

The New York Times - Travel

At times, little children create an obstacle course, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "creating an obstacle", consider the context to determine if a more specific term like "barrier", "challenge", or "impediment" would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "creating an obstacle" repeatedly in formal documents. Vary your language by using synonyms like "posing a challenge" or "presenting a hindrance" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "creating an obstacle" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as part of a predicate. It describes the action of causing or establishing something that hinders progress or makes an action more difficult. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "creating an obstacle" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the action of causing or establishing something that hinders progress. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is well-regarded in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various audiences. While useful, writers should consider synonyms like "posing a barrier" or "presenting a challenge" for variety and precision. The phrase can be used to discuss actions and situations that hinder progress or make it difficult to achieve a goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

posing a barrier

Replaces "creating" with "posing" and "obstacle" with "barrier", emphasizing the act of presenting a hindrance.

presenting a challenge

Substitutes "obstacle" with "challenge", softening the negative connotation while still indicating difficulty.

establishing a hindrance

Replaces "creating" with "establishing" and "obstacle" with "hindrance", focusing on the act of setting up an impediment.

erecting a barrier

Uses "erecting" for a more forceful sense of creation and "barrier" for a physical or metaphorical obstruction.

setting up an impediment

Emphasizes the action of "setting up" a difficulty, using "impediment" as a formal synonym for obstacle.

causing an obstruction

Focuses on the "causing" aspect, replacing "obstacle" with "obstruction" to highlight the blocking effect.

generating a complication

Substitutes "obstacle" with "complication", indicating an added layer of difficulty.

introducing a hurdle

Replaces "obstacle" with "hurdle", suggesting something to be overcome.

laying a stumbling block

Uses a more figurative expression, where "stumbling block" represents something that causes one to falter.

placing a restriction

Replaces "obstacle" with "restriction", suggesting a limit or constraint being imposed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "creating an obstacle" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "establishing a hindrance", "posing a barrier", or "presenting an impediment".

What's a less formal way to say "creating an obstacle"?

In less formal contexts, you might use phrases such as "making it harder", "getting in the way", or "throwing up a roadblock".

Is "creating an obstacle" the same as "facing an obstacle"?

No, "creating an obstacle" implies causing or introducing a difficulty, while "facing an obstacle" means encountering or dealing with an existing difficulty.

Which is more appropriate: "creating an obstacle" or "overcoming an obstacle"?

The choice depends on the context. "Creating an obstacle" suggests causing a problem, whereas "overcoming an obstacle" refers to successfully dealing with a challenge. They have opposite meanings.