ease obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ease obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of making challenges or difficulties less severe or easier to overcome. Example: "The new policy aims to ease obstacles for small businesses seeking loans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary, Julian Castro, joined Lynch in Philadelphia as she announced the Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program, a joint DoJ-HUD effort designed to ease obstacles to employment, housing and education to ex-offenders under the age of 25.

The Guardian - Opinion

Take the example of South Sudan: we have urged the government and the opposition to ease obstacles for humanitarian deliveries and guarantee access to nearly 1.1 million internally displaced people – a task becoming ever more urgent because of the threat of famine resulting from a failed harvest and continuing fighting.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Toward that end, he made clear that he would take steps that include removing settlements and easing obstacles on Palestinian movement and trade.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, easing obstacles to incremental diplomatic moves, Mr. Lee has dropped a demand that North Korea apologize for the sinking of the Cheonan — for which the North denies responsibility — before North-South talks can be resumed.

The New York Times

A new scheme to ease bureaucratic obstacles blocking access to health and education for hundreds of thousands of American-born children living in Mexico has been launched by the US and Mexican governments.

The Guardian

This summer the government also passed legislation to ease bureaucratic obstacles; a Hellenic film commission overseeing permits has been set up and will be expanded with regional offices nationwide.

The Guardian

Ramani, a longtime Burbank businessman, said the state should review all agencies and commissions for waste, and ease regulatory obstacles for small businesses.

Los Angeles Times

To ease these obstacles, the TogoDoc system automatically suggests tags for its users.

Plosone

Barack Obama declared on Tuesday that some components to a global climate change agreement must carry legal force, easing one obstacle to a successful outcome at negotiations in Paris.

The Guardian

The president's stimulus plan should help ease the financial obstacles.

The New York Times

Implementability refers to a set of characteristics that predict ease of (and obstacles to) guideline implementation.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about policy changes or initiatives, use "ease obstacles" to emphasize making access or participation simpler. For example, "The government implemented new regulations to ease obstacles for small businesses seeking loans."

Common error

While "ease obstacles" is appropriate for formal and professional writing, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "help" or "make easier" might be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ease obstacles" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of making challenges or difficulties less severe or more manageable. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ease obstacles" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe the act of making challenges less severe. As confirmed by Ludwig, it’s widely applicable across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's best suited for formal writing and should be used judiciously in casual conversation. Alternatives such as "remove barriers" or "reduce difficulties" can provide nuanced substitutes depending on the specific context. When writing, consider the formality of the situation and aim for clarity in communicating how efforts are being made to improve accessibility or participation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remove barriers

Focuses on complete removal rather than just lessening the impact.

reduce difficulties

Emphasizes the lessening of difficulty, a more general term.

mitigate challenges

Implies making challenges less severe or painful.

alleviate hurdles

Suggests providing relief from specific impediments.

smooth the path

Uses a metaphor to convey making progress easier.

facilitate progress

Highlights making advancement more seamless.

simplify procedures

Focuses on making processes less complex.

clear the way

Suggests removing obstructions to allow for easier passage or advancement.

streamline processes

Emphasizes efficiency and directness in operations.

lower resistance

Implies reducing opposition or friction.

FAQs

How can I use "ease obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use "ease obstacles" to describe actions taken to make something simpler or less difficult. For example, "The new program aims to ease obstacles for students from low-income backgrounds."

What are some alternatives to "ease obstacles"?

Some alternatives include "remove barriers", "reduce difficulties", or "mitigate challenges", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "ease obstacles" or "overcome obstacles"?

"Ease obstacles" means to make the obstacles less difficult to deal with, while "overcome obstacles" means to successfully get past them. The choice depends on whether you are reducing the difficulty or achieving success despite the obstacles.

What is the difference between "ease obstacles" and "reduce challenges"?

While both phrases suggest making something less difficult, "ease obstacles" specifically targets tangible or systemic impediments, while "reduce challenges" can apply to a broader range of difficulties, including mental or emotional ones.