difficulties at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficulties at hand" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the current problems or challenges one is having to face. For example: "The team is doing their best to solve the difficulties at hand and come up with a successful plan of action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Producers said they walked a fine line between paying too much attention to dramatic footage and underplaying the difficulties at hand.

The New York Times

Faced with the limited resources and bureaucratic difficulties at hand, MANANA's organizers succeeded in throwing a quality festival in a place where getting shit done is nearly impossible.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But they often did so against domestic public opinion and they by and large failed to appreciate the difficulty of the task at hand.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fairness, the obstacles are many: incompetency, corruption, the sheer complexity of disbursing huge sums, the multiplicity and difficulty of the tasks at hand — defense, education, health, prisons, courts, police, disaster relief, regulation of markets, banks, drugs, food safety.

The New York Times

He didn't hit the networks over the error either, noting the difficulty of the task at hand.

Huffington Post

This is often done with humor, to offset the unpleasantness and difficulty of the task at hand, and everyone has a good laugh.

Huffington Post

The key idea of this heuristic is to adapt the accuracy of the MIP solver to the difficulty of the MIP at hand in order to spend less time for the precise identification of the most time-consuming solutions (the solutions at the right end of the Pareto front).

Computers and Operations Research

Determine your level of playing ability compared to the difficulty of the piece at hand.

WikiHow

If you choose to hire a professional to do the work, make sure you choose someone who has the skills and abilities that match the level of difficulty of the job at hand.

WikiHow

Like Mr. Davis, Mr. Jamerson is mindful of the difficulties of mastering the material at hand -- in his case, the Grace Church presentation of Vaughan Williams's fantasia.

The New York Times

Not only did he not bring up Mitt Romney's shocking "47 percent" comment or his nasty offshore banking practices, but he also seemed to have difficulty focusing on the issue at hand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficulties at hand", ensure the context clearly defines the specific problems or challenges being referred to. Avoid vagueness to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficulties at hand" when referring to hypothetical or future problems. The phrase implies that the difficulties are current and immediate, not potential or distant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulties at hand" functions as a noun phrase, referring to the problems or challenges that are currently being faced. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficulties at hand" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe current problems or challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific publications. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the existing problems or challenges. Alternatives like "current challenges", "present problems", and "immediate obstacles" can be used based on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

troubles at hand

Replaces 'difficulties' with 'troubles', a more informal term suggesting problems or worries.

current challenges

Focuses on the 'challenges' aspect, implying a test of one's abilities, less specific than 'difficulties'.

present problems

Uses 'problems' which is a more general term than 'difficulties', highlighting the issues being faced now.

immediate obstacles

Highlights the 'obstacles' as things blocking progress; 'immediate' stresses urgency.

pressing issues

'Issues' are matters needing to be dealt with; 'pressing' suggests they require urgent attention.

existing complications

'Complications' suggests intertwined difficulties, potentially more complex than simple 'difficulties'.

prevailing hardships

'Hardships' emphasizes the suffering or privation caused by the difficulties; 'prevailing' indicates they are current.

on-going struggles

'Struggles' suggests a sustained effort against the difficulties, implying a longer timeframe.

live concerns

Focuses on active and ongoing worries or concerns; 'live' emphasizes their present and active nature.

matters in question

Replaces 'difficulties' with 'matters' and sets it as issues "in question", implying an ongoing debate.

FAQs

How can I use "difficulties at hand" in a sentence?

You can use "difficulties at hand" to refer to current problems or challenges, as in "The team is working hard to overcome the "difficulties at hand" and achieve its goals".

What are some alternatives to "difficulties at hand"?

Alternatives include "current challenges", "present problems", or "immediate obstacles", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "difficulties at hand" in formal writing?

Yes, "difficulties at hand" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider the specific tone and audience. In some cases, a more specific term might be preferable for clarity.

What's the difference between "difficulties at hand" and "challenges ahead"?

"Difficulties at hand" refers to current, immediate problems, while "challenges ahead" refers to future or anticipated problems. One describes the present, the other the future.