elusive problem

USAGE SUMMARY

"elusive problem" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a problem or issue that is difficult to understand or solve. Example: The scientist's research has focused on understanding the elusive problem of climate change, but so far, there is no clear solution in sight.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Disc brake squeal remains an elusive problem in the automotive industry.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Automatic shot classification can also serve as an important step in approaching the elusive problem of capturing semantics or meaning in the video sequence (see, e.g., [14]).

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Understanding the delicate balance between the role of effector and memory cells on eliminating cancer cells remains an elusive problem in immunology.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

In addition to many issues of internal affairs, the economy and society, she must face fierce international competition, as well as the complex and elusive problem of North Korea.

BBC

The latter result seems to open a pathway to the elusive problem of proving (for fixed d) the existence of a spherical L-design with a number of points N of order (L+1)d.

Journal of Approximation Theory

Determining the evaporation of the choice for maintaining the blockade and conventional bombing to break the Japanese will is an elusive problem.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Time described the environmental crisis as a problem that Americans "might actually solve, unlike the immensely more elusive problems of race prejudice or the war in Vietnam".

The New Yorker

Now, Dr. Jack Swanson, a pediatrician in Ames, Iowa, spends his days dealing with more elusive problems: depressed children, anorexic and bulimic teenagers, sexually precocious tweens, young substance abusers, younger perpetrators and victims of violence.

The New York Times - Health

We turn first to the most elusive environmental problem of all, global warming.

The Economist

However, the search for the "optimal" multiplier – one that results in a distortion-minimizing solution among all Lagrangian solutions that satisfy the original rate constraint – remains an elusive open problem in the general setting.

Signal Processing: Image Communication

It is now commonly accepted that the genetic influences on much of human disease is not Mendelian in nature but is genetically complex (Altshuler et al. 2008); however, identification of the genetic determinants in genetically complex disorders has been elusive, a problem referred to as "missing heritability" (Queitsch et al. 2012) or "phantom heritability" (Zuk et al. 2012).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "elusive problem", ensure that the context clearly establishes why the problem is difficult to understand or resolve. Providing specific examples of its complexity can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "elusive problem" for issues that are merely difficult. "Elusive" implies a fundamental lack of clarity or definition, not just a high degree of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elusive problem" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "elusive" modifies the noun "problem". According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically sound and commonly used. The adjective specifies a particular quality of the problem, indicating it is difficult to grasp, define, or solve.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elusive problem" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a problem that is difficult to define, understand, or solve. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. It is used across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business settings, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When writing, it's important to ensure that the elusiveness of the problem is clearly established, avoiding its use for merely difficult issues. Alternative phrases, such as "unclear problem" or "obscure problem", can be used to vary the language while maintaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illusory problem

Replaces "elusive" with "illusory", emphasizing the deceptive or unreal nature of the problem.

unclear problem

Substitutes "elusive" with "unclear", focusing on the lack of understanding or definition surrounding the problem.

difficult to define problem

Expands the description to explicitly state the difficulty in defining the problem.

hard-to-grasp problem

Replaces "elusive" with "hard-to-grasp", highlighting the challenge in comprehending the problem.

tricky problem

Substitutes "elusive" with "tricky", suggesting the problem requires careful handling and may be deceptive.

obscure problem

Replaces "elusive" with "obscure", indicating the problem is not easily discovered or understood.

complex and evasive problem

Adds "complex and evasive" to emphasize the multi-faceted and hard-to-pin-down nature of the problem.

remote problem

Replaces "elusive" with "remote", highlighting the problem seems far off or not directly accessible.

tough problem

Substitutes "elusive" with "tough", focusing on the difficulty in overcoming the problem.

challenging problem

Substitutes "elusive" with "challenging", focusing on how the problem present difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "elusive problem" in a sentence?

You can use "elusive problem" to describe challenges that are difficult to define or understand. For example, "Disc brake squeal remains an "elusive problem" in the automotive industry".

What's a good substitute for "elusive problem"?

Alternatives include "unclear problem", "obscure problem", or "hard to define problem", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "illusive problem" instead of "elusive problem"?

While "illusive" and "elusive" are similar, "elusive" is more appropriate when referring to a problem that is hard to grasp or define. "Illusive" suggests something deceptive or unreal.

What makes a problem "elusive" rather than just difficult?

An "elusive problem" is characterized by its ambiguity and lack of clear definition. It's not just about the difficulty in solving it, but also the challenge in understanding its nature and scope.