difficulty persists

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty persists" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing ongoing challenges or problems that continue to exist despite efforts to resolve them. For example: "Despite numerous attempts to improve the situation, difficulty persists." Alternative expressions include "challenges remain" and "problems continue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And the difficulty persists: it's easier for Stafford-Clark to put on De Angelis's new play on the back of Goldsmith's old one.

The Guardian

However, the difficulty persists that many of these processes, such as the idea of knowledge spillovers promoting innovation and economic growth [28], have remained very hard to quantify and model in general terms.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For higher SNR, this difficulty persisted for CCA while the performance of CoM2 slightly improved.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Furthermore, DD seems to be an enduring specific learning difficulty, persisting into late adolescence [ 8].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Still, she said, difficulties persist.

The New York Times

By the next morning, Fitch had debugged his software, but other difficulties persisted.

The New Yorker

But, because of the insistence of the Inland Revenue, his monetary difficulties persisted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While the region's difficulties persisted with the political gridlock in Greece, investors used the market's declines as a buying opportunity.

The New York Times

Difficulties persisted, however; the nizam continued his efforts to assert his autonomy, India insisted that Hyderabad join India, and the nizam appealed to King George VI of Great Britain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For most Burmese -- the tens of millions who have not been able to fight the generals to a standoff -- all of these difficulties persist, along with a fear of being jailed and tortured by Military Intelligence.

The New York Times

If the current difficulties persist, Moscow will try to draw a red line around the Baltic states, keeping them out of the treaty organization -- and the European allies will probably go along.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with a preceding description of the steps taken to solve the problem to highlight the frustration or complexity of the situation.

Common error

Writers often confuse the singular "difficulty persists" with the plural "difficulties persist". Ensure that if you are discussing multiple issues, you use the plural form without the 's' on the verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty persists" functions as a declarative subject-verb clause. In this structure, 'difficulty' serves as the singular noun subject, while 'persists' is the intransitive verb in the third-person singular present tense. Based on examples from Ludwig AI, it is typically used as a standalone statement or a concluding clause following a colon or semicolon to emphasize continuity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0.5%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficulty persists" is a precise and grammatically correct way to describe a problem that continues over time. While the exact singular form is relatively rare in frequency compared to its plural counterpart, it is highly authoritative and appears in some of the most respected academic and journalistic publications. According to Ludwig AI data, it is most at home in scientific journals and high-end news media, where it is used to denote technical hurdles or systemic issues that remain unresolved. Writers should be careful to maintain subject-verb agreement, using the singular 'persists' only with the singular 'difficulty'. Overall, it is an excellent choice for formal writing where a succinct report of an ongoing challenge is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficulties persist

The plural form, which is more frequently found in news and scientific reports when multiple factors are at play.

challenges remain

Shifts the focus from a single 'difficulty' to broader, often multiple, 'challenges'.

obstacles persist

Emphasizes the presence of concrete barriers blocking progress.

problem continues

Uses more direct, common language instead of the slightly more formal 'persists'.

trouble persists

A slightly less formal noun ('trouble') combined with a formal verb.

issue endures

Suggests a longer-lasting or more deeply rooted problem that is surviving despite interventions.

hurdles remain

Metaphorical choice highlighting specific obstacles yet to be overcome.

complications linger

Implies that while the main issue might be solved, secondary problems remain present.

setbacks continue

Focuses on the recurrence of negative developments or reversals.

stumbling blocks remain

An idiomatic way to describe specific issues that prevent smooth progress.

FAQs

How do I use "difficulty persists" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an ongoing problem, for example: "Despite the software update, the connection difficulty persists."

What is the difference between "difficulty persists" and "difficulties persist"?

The main difference is number; "difficulty persists" refers to one specific problem, whereas "difficulties persist" refers to multiple issues or a general state of trouble.

What is a more formal synonym for "difficulty persists"?

A more formal alternative might be "complications endure" or "challenges remain".

Can I use "difficulty persists" in scientific writing?

Yes, it is very common in research papers to describe phenomena or technical limitations that have not been overcome, as seen in examples from journals like Plosone.