difficulty in locating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty in locating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges or obstacles in finding something or someone. Example: "We encountered difficulty in locating the missing documents during the audit."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Western Union had difficulty in locating the Jersey man.

The New Yorker

Ask about the degree of difficulty in locating the item.

University of California, Berkeley

"The only complication we expect is the difficulty in locating creditors," Mr. Allard said.

The New York Times

Conventional endodontic treatment was discontinued given the difficulty in locating the root canals.

Journal of Endodontics

The problem for regulators is the difficulty in locating and estimating the outstanding size of these trades.

The New York Times

But the massive effort is complicated by difficulty in locating some parents and, in other cases, uncertainty about the parents' identities.

The Washington Post

A measure in this context is just as it sounds, an observable parameter, such as the number of monthly service desk questions concerning user difficulty in locating materials.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is common that some people have difficulties in locating their destinations in spite of availability of wayfinding aids.

Journal of Air Transport Management

It is common that some people have difficulties in locating their destinations in spite of availability of information signs.

Journal of Air Transport Management

The costs for searching for one unit of a certain resource may increase as a result of the increased difficulties in locating any remaining resources.

Journal of Economic Structures

These findings are attributed to significant spatial variations in the density of good outcrops and difficulties in locating suitable places on São Miguel (e.g. via road access to outcrops) at which to measure thickness at greater distances from source.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about challenges in research, use "difficulty in locating" to maintain a formal and objective tone.

Common error

While "difficulty in locating" is correct, it can sound overly formal in everyday conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "hard to find" or "trouble finding" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty in locating" functions as a noun phrase acting as the object of a verb or following a preposition. It describes a situation where there are problems or challenges in finding someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

24%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficulty in locating" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe challenges in finding something or someone. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and applicable across a range of formal contexts. While alternatives like "challenges in finding" or "trouble finding" might be more suitable for informal settings, "difficulty in locating" maintains a professional tone ideal for academic, scientific, and news-related writing. Its prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenges in finding

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenges" and "locating" with "finding", emphasizing the problematic nature of the search.

problems identifying

Substitutes "difficulty" with "problems" and "locating" with "identifying", highlighting the struggle to recognize or ascertain something.

trouble finding

Uses "trouble" instead of "difficulty", offering a more informal alternative to express the problem of finding.

hard to find

Expresses the difficulty more directly by stating that something is "hard to find".

obstacles in discovering

Replaces "difficulty" with "obstacles" and "locating" with "discovering", focusing on barriers to uncovering something.

a challenge to pinpoint

Highlights the problematic nature of accurately identifying or determining something.

issues in tracking down

Replaces "difficulty" with "issues" and "locating" with "tracking down", emphasizing problems in finding something after a search.

complexity in identifying

Substitutes "difficulty" with "complexity", emphasizing the intricate nature of the task to identify the thing you are looking for.

the near impossibility of finding

This alternative expresses a very high degree of difficulty, implying that finding something is almost impossible.

a struggle to unearth

Replaces "difficulty" with "struggle" and "locating" with "unearth", emphasizing the effort required to uncover something hidden.

FAQs

What does "difficulty in locating" mean?

The phrase "difficulty in locating" means that there are challenges or obstacles in finding someone or something. It implies that the process of finding is not easy or straightforward.

How can I use "difficulty in locating" in a sentence?

You can use "difficulty in locating" in a sentence like this: "The researchers experienced "difficulty in locating" suitable participants for the study."

What can I say instead of "difficulty in locating"?

You can use alternatives such as "challenges in finding", "problems identifying", or "trouble finding" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "difficulty in locating" and "hard to find"?

While both phrases express the same basic idea, "difficulty in locating" is generally more formal and often used in professional or academic contexts. "Hard to find" is more informal and suitable for everyday conversation.