creating obstacles for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "creating obstacles for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or situations that hinder progress or make tasks more difficult for someone or something. Example: "The new regulations are creating obstacles for small businesses trying to expand their operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It's also a remarkably lazy approach to creating obstacles for Lara to overcome.

The New York Times - Tech

In Indonesia, too, a shrinking civet population is creating obstacles for those hoping to ride the civet coffee boom.

The New York Times

"Since everyone sees this government going nowhere, every small action gives the perception that it is creating obstacles for peace".

The New York Times

The European Commission has argued that the agreements have blocked the consolidation of the European airline industry by creating obstacles for cross-border mergers.

The New York Times

DNA wrapped in nucleosomes is sterically occluded, creating obstacles for polymerase, regulatory, remodeling, repair and recombination complexes, which require access to the wrapped DNA.

Nature

At the same time, the Assemblyman has been harshly criticized for creating obstacles for insurgent candidates and for running the borough's Democratic organization with little tolerance for open competition.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

At times, she created obstacles for other New Yorkers - traffic tie-ups and mob scenes.

The New York Times

Any structures in the Thames could impact the flow of the river and create obstacles for watercraft".

The Guardian

Like Papadogeorgou and Konstantinou, Spiliopoulos believes a lack of knowledge about the social enterprise sector creates obstacles for social entrepreneurs.

The Guardian

And expanded privacy protections have created obstacles for colleges in providing information on student performance to parents, undercutting a traditional check on student lassitude.

The New York Times

"I believe that part of the increasing Hezbollah activity is not just that they want to create obstacles for peace," said Haim Ramon, a cabinet minister.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider more direct alternatives like "hindering" or "impeding" if the context allows for a more concise expression.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "obstacles are being created for..." as it often weakens the sentence. Instead, specify who is "creating obstacles for" whom to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "creating obstacles for" functions as a verbal phrase acting as a modifier, typically describing actions or policies that negatively impact a subject. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "creating obstacles for" is a phrase used to describe actions or situations that make it more difficult for someone or something to progress. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and relatively common, particularly within News & Media. While alternative phrases like "hindering progress" or "posing challenges" exist, "creating obstacles for" is a clear and effective way to express the idea of impeding or obstructing something. It is important to avoid passive voice constructions to maintain clarity and impact in writing. Understanding the nuances of this phrase allows for more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erecting barriers for

Replaces "creating" with "erecting" and "obstacles" with "barriers", emphasizing the act of setting up hindrances.

posing challenges for

Substitutes "obstacles" with "challenges", focusing on the difficulty presented.

setting impediments for

Replaces "obstacles" with "impediments", highlighting the hindering nature.

hindering progress for

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on the act of hindering.

impeding advancement for

Similar to hindering, but uses more formal vocabulary.

obstructing opportunities for

Focuses on blocking chances or possibilities.

complicating matters for

Emphasizes the increase in complexity caused.

raising difficulties for

Highlights the difficulties that arise.

placing restrictions on

Focuses on the act of imposing limitations.

introducing complications for

Similar to complicating matters, but uses a different verb.

FAQs

What does "creating obstacles for" mean?

The phrase "creating obstacles for" means to make it more difficult for someone or something to achieve a goal or make progress. It implies that challenges or difficulties are being intentionally or unintentionally introduced.

How can I use "creating obstacles for" in a sentence?

You can use "creating obstacles for" to describe situations where something is hindering progress. For example: "Bureaucratic red tape is "creating obstacles for" small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "creating obstacles for"?

Some alternatives to "creating obstacles for" include "hindering progress", "impeding advancement", or "posing challenges".

Is there a difference between "creating obstacles for" and "facing obstacles"?

"Creating obstacles for" implies an active role in making things difficult for someone or something. In contrast, "facing obstacles" means encountering or dealing with existing difficulties, without implying who or what created them.