encountered a problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'encountered a problem' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone has encountered a difficult problem. For example, "The engineer encountered a problem during the repair process that she had never seen before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Here we encountered a problem.

Independent

Immediately, we encountered a problem: there wasn't anywhere to sit.

The New Yorker

Having transferred files from Works Suite 2000 to Works 7.0 I have encountered a problem.

The Guardian - Tech

As soon as they started filling out the application online, however, they encountered a problem.

The New Yorker

But the journalists at the News of the World then encountered a problem.

The Guardian

Half felt that music was distracting when they encountered a problem.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

If the Winbot encounters a problem it sounds an alarm.

The New York Times

But here, too, he encounters a problem — of tidiness.

The New York Times - Books

"If they encounter a problem, they can appeal to me.

The New York Times

I see it, the author quietly exclaims, but then he encounters a problem with his tense.

The New Yorker

Parents, if you encounter a problem, stop and think before you call the dean of students to complain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encountered a problem", be specific about the nature of the problem to provide clarity and context for your reader.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you "encountered a problem" without detailing what the problem was. Always follow up with specific details about the nature and impact of the issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered a problem" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone or something has experienced a difficulty or obstacle. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and widely used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

22%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "encountered a problem" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the experience of facing a difficulty. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While there are several semantically related alternatives, such as "faced an issue" or "ran into a difficulty", the key is to provide specific details about the problem to ensure clarity. The phrase is frequently found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced an issue

Replaces 'encountered' with 'faced' and 'problem' with 'issue', slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

ran into a difficulty

Substitutes 'encountered' with 'ran into' and 'problem' with 'difficulty', creating a more informal expression.

experienced a setback

Replaces the whole phrase with a more general term indicating a hindrance in progress.

came across a hurdle

Uses 'came across' instead of 'encountered' and 'hurdle' instead of 'problem', implying an obstacle to overcome.

met with an obstacle

Uses 'met with' instead of 'encountered' and 'obstacle' instead of 'problem', suggesting something blocking progress.

stumbled upon a snag

Employs 'stumbled upon' to replace 'encountered' and 'snag' for 'problem', indicating an unexpected minor difficulty.

confronted a challenge

Replaces "problem" with "challenge", framing the situation as something that tests one's abilities.

hit a roadblock

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe encountering an obstruction that halts progress.

underwent a complication

Implies that the problem arose as a part of an ongoing process or situation and that is more intricate and complex.

suffered a complication

Indicates that the problem was unwanted and has caused a negative impact or made things difficult.

FAQs

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

Use "encountered a problem" to describe a situation where someone faced an unexpected difficulty. For example, "During the experiment, the researchers "encountered a problem" with the equipment".

What can I say instead of "encountered a problem"?

You can use alternatives like "faced an issue", "ran into a difficulty", or "experienced a setback depending on the context.

Is it better to say "encountered an issue" or "encountered a problem"?

Both "encountered an issue" and "encountered a problem" are acceptable. "Encountered a problem" might suggest a more significant difficulty than "encountered an issue", but the difference is subtle and often depends on context.

What's the difference between "encountered a problem" and "discovered a problem"?

"Encountered a problem" implies facing a difficulty during a process or activity. "Discovered a problem" suggests finding or identifying a problem that may have already existed. They are similar, but "encountered" focuses on the experience of facing the problem, while "discovered" emphasizes finding it.