encounter significant difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encounter significant difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone faces major challenges or obstacles. Example: "During the project, we encountered significant difficulty in meeting the tight deadlines set by the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

One feature of the present and Yates' [ 1] Nottingham results that is germane, is the group called 'pre-clinical' – students who encounter significant difficulties in the early part of the course, but who then progress without further problem.

BMC Medical Education

However, as noted in Results, we encountered significant difficulty in breeding these animals and noted a high degree of lethality early in the process.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

One reason for this is because in pilot work we encountered significant difficulty in getting young children of the same age range to produce a sufficient volume of saliva necessary for the assays.

Biological Psychiatry

However, most of these studies to date have used either ex vivo cadaveric vessel samples or in situ euthanized animals to obtain the Micro-CT vascular maps, where the technique encounters significant difficulty in obtaining in vivo patient data.

Biomedical Optics Express

We have recently encountered significant difficulties in processing applicants in sufficient numbers through the necessary training, vetting and accreditation procedures.

BBC

The analysis of complex traits, including those involved in many common diseases, has encountered significant difficulties, and, despite major efforts during the past decade, has had little success.

Trends in Genetics

ECI agrees with the general conclusions reached by the Carter Center and others, that voters at roughly 15-20 percent of polling places encountered significant difficulties in casting their votes.

Huffington Post

Previous studies have encountered significant difficulties in developing animal models capable of reproducing human NASH.

BioMed Research International

In trypanosomes, detailed analysis demonstrated that TbAGO1-/ mutant cells encountered significant difficulties in cell cycle progression, resulting in reduced growth rate.

BMC Biology

We have encountered significant difficulties, such as probe cross-reactivity and non-specific product detection, using conventional methods, in assessing the specificity of Tβ4 knockdown as against a non-specific effect on its closest relative Thymosin beta 10 (Tβ10).

Biological Procedures Online

Two study investigators reported that their studies encountered significant difficulties in creating a sampling frame due to the lack of reliable and up-to-date information on primary care providers and practices.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encounter significant difficulty", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific challenges or obstacles are being faced. Be specific to provide clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "encounter significant difficulty" without specifying the nature of the difficulty. General statements can lack impact and leave the reader wondering about the specifics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter significant difficulty" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone or something is experiencing or facing notable problems or challenges. Ludwig AI marks the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "encounter significant difficulty" is used to describe situations where notable problems or challenges arise. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and generally usable. While no exact matches were found in the provided examples, related phrases such as "face considerable challenges" or "experience major obstacles" can serve as alternatives. When using the phrase, it’s best to provide specific details about the nature of the difficulty to enhance clarity. Although this expression is deemed missing in terms of frequency, it is a suitable expression across a range of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face considerable challenges

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenges" and "significant" with "considerable", focusing on the obstacles faced.

experience major obstacles

Uses "obstacles" instead of "difficulty" and "major" instead of "significant", highlighting the impediments encountered.

run into serious problems

Substitutes "difficulty" with "problems" and "significant" with "serious", emphasizing the issues that arise.

meet substantial hurdles

Replaces "difficulty" with "hurdles" and "significant" with "substantial", portraying the challenges as barriers to overcome.

confront formidable obstacles

Uses "obstacles" instead of "difficulty" and "formidable" instead of "significant", stressing the intimidating nature of the challenges.

undergo considerable hardship

Shifts the focus to the suffering or adversity experienced, using "hardship" instead of "difficulty".

find oneself in dire straits

Expresses a more severe situation of distress, differing significantly in tone and intensity.

be in a predicament

Indicates a difficult or unpleasant situation, with a broader and less intense connotation.

face an uphill battle

Emphasizes the prolonged effort required to overcome the difficulties, portraying it as a strenuous struggle.

struggle against adversity

Highlights the ongoing effort to counteract unfavorable circumstances, focusing on the active resistance to challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "encounter significant difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "encounter significant difficulty" to describe a situation where someone or something faces major challenges. For example, "The project "encountered significant difficulty" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "encounter significant difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "face considerable challenges", "experience major obstacles", or "run into serious problems" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "encounter significant difficulty" or "encounter significant challenges"?

Both "encounter significant difficulty" and "encounter significant challenges" are correct and usable. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the problems faced (difficulty) or the obstacles to overcome (challenges).

What's the difference between "encounter difficulty" and "encounter significant difficulty"?

Adding "significant" to "encounter difficulty" emphasizes that the difficulty is substantial or noteworthy, highlighting the magnitude of the problem. Without "significant", the difficulty might be perceived as minor.