encounter a barrier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encounter a barrier" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone faces an obstacle or difficulty in achieving a goal or completing a task. Example: "During the project, we encountered a barrier that delayed our progress significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

DODGE Like the Audi owners just noted, some Challenger and Charger drivers may encounter a barrier to entry.

The New York Times

"If people go to the Golden Gate Bridge and encounter a barrier, they don't go to the Bay Bridge and try there," Dr. Reidenberg said.

The New York Times

When the Teton Range uplifted about 9 million years ago along a detachment fault running north south through the central Rockies, rainclouds began to encounter a barrier at the eastern end of the channel, gorging the headwaters of the Snake River with frequent rainfall.

Wikipedia

Thus, the system will encounter a barrier in the evolution of complexity (cf. [ 3]).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Depending on the orientations of the Ser6′ Hγ Oγ bonds, a diffusing cation coming from the extracellular vestibule would either encounter a barrier at the level of the 9′ ring, or be attracted inward.

EMBO Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

However, due to the relative low activity of Wnt4 promoter reporter in 293 cells, we encountered a barrier to further define the core response elements accounting for Eaf1 or Eaf2/U19's suppression in the wnt4 promoter.

Plosone

(c) SA pre-bound to a biotin residue in the template strand caused RT to stall two nucleotides upstream from the biotin residue suggesting that RT encountered a barrier created by the bound SA approximately two nucleotides beyond the position of the last nucleotide incorporated.

Plosone

What happens if you encounter an access barrier?

Huffington Post

"I feel relevant and valuable and I am struggling to understand why, when women reach age 65, they encounter an invisible barrier of perception that says it's time to walk away".

Huffington Post

The energy scales reveal that binding of PT70 or PT92 to the binary complex will encounter an energy barrier of at least 4 6 kcal/mol to convert the open enzyme to the closed one.

ACS Chemical Biology

So, what should you do if you encounter a challenge or barrier in casting your vote?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encounter a barrier", ensure the context clearly defines the nature of the barrier and its impact on the subject. Specify whether it is a physical, mental, or systemic barrier.

Common error

Avoid using "encounter a barrier" in overly formal or academic writing where more precise terminology might be appropriate. Consider alternatives like "face an obstacle" or "experience an impediment" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter a barrier" functions primarily as a verbal phrase, where "encounter" acts as a transitive verb taking "a barrier" as its object. It describes the action of experiencing or coming across an obstacle, as demonstrated by Ludwig in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encounter a barrier" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, signifying the experience of facing an obstacle or difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples across different contexts. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent usage in scientific and news-related articles. When employing this phrase, consider the nature of the barrier and the level of formality required, and remember to choose precise language over clichés, depending on the case.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face an obstacle

Replaces "encounter" with "face", focusing on the direct confrontation of the obstacle.

meet an obstacle

Uses "meet" instead of "encounter", suggesting a less forceful interaction with the obstacle.

face a hurdle

Employs "hurdle" in place of "barrier", evoking the image of overcoming a specific obstacle.

confront a difficulty

Replaces "encounter" with "confront", emphasizing a more direct engagement with the problem.

come up against a challenge

Substitutes "barrier" with "challenge", implying a test of one's abilities.

experience an impediment

Substitutes "barrier" with the more formal term "impediment".

run into a problem

Replaces "barrier" with "problem", indicating a difficulty that needs resolution.

find an obstruction

Uses "find" instead of "encounter" and "obstruction" instead of "barrier", both conveying a sense of discovery.

hit a snag

Uses a more informal expression, "hit a snag", suggesting a minor obstacle.

strike an obstacle

This alternative is less common but suggests a more abrupt encounter with the barrier.

FAQs

What does it mean to "encounter a barrier"?

To "encounter a barrier" means to come across or face an obstacle, difficulty, or impediment that hinders progress or prevents the achievement of a goal. It implies that the obstacle was not necessarily anticipated.

What can I say instead of "encounter a barrier"?

You can use alternatives like "face an obstacle", "meet an obstacle", or "come up against a challenge", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "encounter a barrier" or "face a barrier"?

Both "encounter a barrier" and "face a barrier" are grammatically correct. "Encounter" suggests a more passive finding of the barrier, while "face" implies a more active confrontation of it.

How does "encounter a barrier" differ from "overcome a barrier"?

"Encounter a barrier" means to come across an obstacle. "Overcome a barrier", on the other hand, suggests successfully dealing with and moving past the obstacle. The former is about the initial experience; the latter is about the resolution.