encounter setbacks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encounter setbacks" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where difficulties are encountered on the path to success. For example: Despite their best efforts, the team encountered several setbacks during their project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Both the directed and the directionless, Ms. Walters insisted, would encounter setbacks along the way.

The New York Times

In reality, nearly all scientists encounter setbacks, singularities that disturb the local time-career continuum.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Villas-Boas said that Parker had encountered setbacks and was yet to return to training.

The Guardian - Sport

Although the company encountered setbacks in almost all of its business lines, its earnings beat analyst estimates.

The New York Times

His ambitious rehabilitation schedule encountered setbacks in spring training, and now he will most likely rest for four to eight weeks before restarting any baseball activities.

The New York Times - Sports

Lewis's legal campaign has encountered setbacks on other fronts: in April, 2014, the public prosecutor of Bahrain dismissed AHAB's complaint against Sanea, because the Gosaibis had failed to produce purported loan-book victims in court.

The New Yorker

Yoga teaches the women to control their breathing, which calms the nervous system and in turn calms the mind – a valuable skill off the mat, when at the Home Office or encountering setbacks in their day-to-day lives.

The Guardian

Previous will-they-won't-they moments have always encountered setbacks, be it a near-fatal sting from a virus-carrying bee or the discovery by Scully that the Mulder she'd had her eye on was in fact a shape shifter (don't ask).

The Guardian

Finally, to see whether the garden activities provided a venue for students to build their persistence and capacity to bounce back when encountering setbacks, students' science teachers reported on each student's capacity to re-engage in the face of day-to-day academic challenges.

International Journal of STEM Education

In 1373, as Ming forces encountered setbacks, Hongwu put more emphasis on defence and adopted Hua Yunlong's suggestion to establish garrisons at 130 passes and other strategic points in the Beijing area.

Wikipedia

After encountering setback in the quest to fabricate solid-state nanopore using simple methods, some researchers returned to using energetic particles to fabricate nanopore in small areas with controllable structure [20, 42].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encounter setbacks" when you want to convey that progress has been impeded, but not necessarily halted. It implies a temporary delay or challenge.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "setbacks were encountered". Instead, use the active voice: "the team encountered setbacks". This makes your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter setbacks" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of experiencing difficulties or obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct expression in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encounter setbacks" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe facing difficulties or obstacles. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in English. While not extremely common, it is appropriate for professional and neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and formal business communications. Alternatives include "experience difficulties" or "face obstacles". Remember to use the active voice for more direct writing. To emphasize that it is not the best solution for your writings, the phrase "encounter setbacks" usage frequency is considered uncommon and has many alternatives that you should consider.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience difficulties

Replaces "setbacks" with a more general term, "difficulties", indicating any kind of problem.

face obstacles

Substitutes "setbacks" with "obstacles", suggesting barriers that impede progress.

meet with adversity

Uses a more formal term, "adversity", to describe challenging or unfavorable situations.

suffer reverses

Employs "reverses" to indicate negative turns or changes in fortune.

run into problems

Replaces "encounter" with "run into" and "setbacks" with "problems", indicating unexpected issues.

undergo trials

Suggests enduring difficult or painful experiences as tests of character.

confront challenges

Emphasizes the act of facing difficult tasks or situations.

hit stumbling blocks

Uses a more figurative term, "stumbling blocks", to refer to obstacles.

navigate hurdles

Suggests overcoming obstacles with skill and strategy.

weather storms

Implies surviving difficult periods or crises.

FAQs

How can I use "encounter setbacks" in a sentence?

You can use "encounter setbacks" to describe facing difficulties or obstacles in a project, plan, or endeavor. For example, "Despite their meticulous planning, the company began to "encounter setbacks" during the implementation phase".

What is a simple alternative to "encounter setbacks"?

A simpler alternative is to say "face problems" or "have difficulties". The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "encounter setbacks" or "experience setbacks"?

"Encounter setbacks" and "experience setbacks" are both grammatically correct and have very similar meanings. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific context.

What does it mean to "encounter setbacks"?

To "encounter setbacks" means to face unexpected difficulties or obstacles that delay or impede progress toward a goal. It suggests that these difficulties were not necessarily anticipated.