encountered setbacks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encountered setbacks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or difficulties faced in a process or project. Example: "Despite our best efforts, we encountered setbacks that delayed the project's completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 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

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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

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

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

Science Magazine

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

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 "encountered setbacks" when you want to convey that difficulties or obstacles were faced during a particular process or project. It suggests that progress was impeded, but not necessarily halted completely.

Common error

Avoid using "encountered setbacks" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "Setbacks were encountered", try phrasing it more actively: "The team encountered setbacks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered setbacks" functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe the experience of facing obstacles or difficulties in the course of an activity or project. Ludwig AI validates this usage as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountered setbacks" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe facing difficulties or obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is used across a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the situation, conveying that progress was impeded. Consider alternatives like "faced difficulties" or "met with obstacles" for nuanced differences. Be mindful of avoiding passive voice constructions for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced difficulties

Focuses on the act of confronting challenges, slightly more general.

met with obstacles

Emphasizes the presence of impediments during progress.

experienced challenges

Highlights the personal experience of dealing with difficulties.

ran into problems

Suggests a more immediate and unexpected confrontation with issues.

suffered reverses

Emphasizes a negative change or downturn in fortune.

endured hardships

Highlights the prolonged suffering of difficulties.

underwent trials

Implies a period of testing or difficulty.

had complications

Highlights the complexity and difficulty of a situation.

stumbled upon obstacles

Highlights stumbling onto unanticipated difficulties.

contended with adversity

Highlights the difficulties encountered in challenging circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "encountered setbacks" to describe situations where progress was hindered by difficulties. For example, "The project "encountered setbacks" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "encountered setbacks"?

Alternatives include "faced difficulties", "met with obstacles", or "experienced challenges". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "encountered setbacks" or "faced challenges"?

"Encountered setbacks" and "faced challenges" are similar, but "encountered setbacks" suggests a more specific instance of something going wrong, while "faced challenges" is broader and can refer to ongoing difficulties.

What's the difference between "encountered setbacks" and "experienced failure"?

"Encountered setbacks" implies temporary difficulties that can be overcome. "Experienced failure", on the other hand, suggests a complete lack of success. Setbacks are part of a process, while failure implies the end of it.