Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
encountered technical difficulties
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "encountered technical difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where problems or issues related to technology have arisen, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "We apologize for the inconvenience, but we encountered technical difficulties during the presentation."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
9 human-written examples
While asymptotically efficient algorithms for quantized identification under periodic inputs are available, their counterpart under general inputs has encountered technical difficulties and evaded satisfactory resolutions.
Science
Initiatives such as the UK's Jorum repository have encountered technical difficulties in relation to resource storage and retrieval.
Most of the students who stated that they encountered technical difficulties pointed out that the text font was hard to read.
Not to mention the fact that legal wrangles haven't been Aereo's only obstacle, as the startup has also encountered technical difficulties in moving its predominantly indoor technology out of doors — to rooftops in new markets.
News & Media
Jesse Beams had developed such a process at the University of Virginia during the 1930s, but had encountered technical difficulties.
Wiki
It also does not count those who attempted to purchase health coverage but encountered technical difficulties and could not finish the process by the enrollment deadline.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
51 human-written examples
This time, however, the crew encounters technical difficulties, and her impassioned speech goes unrecorded.
News & Media
What should I do if I encounter technical difficulties with my online application?
Academia
At the risk of sounding trite, but truly, we are encountering technical difficulties.
Academia
The implementation of e-health solutions may also encounter technical difficulties such as complexity, compatibility and insufficient IT infrastructure [3].
Real-time PCR, however, encounters technical difficulties when multiple mutations from one sample need to be detected simultaneously in a single tube.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When writing about technical difficulties, be specific about the nature of the issues encountered. Instead of just stating "encountered technical difficulties", briefly describe what those difficulties were.
Common error
Avoid using passive voice when describing who "encountered" the technical difficulties. Instead of saying "Technical difficulties were encountered", specify who encountered the difficulties: "The team encountered technical difficulties."
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "encountered technical difficulties" primarily functions as a verb phrase acting as the predicate of a sentence. It describes the action or experience of facing problems related to technology. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.
Frequent in
Science
45%
News & Media
25%
Academia
15%
Less common in
Formal & Business
10%
Wiki
5%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "encountered technical difficulties" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the experience of facing technology-related problems. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. While versatile, using specific details about the nature of the difficulties and avoiding passive voice can enhance clarity. Related alternatives include "experienced technical problems" or "faced technical issues". Predominantly found in science, news and media, and academia, this phrase maintains a professional register. It serves to inform about technological challenges and often justifies unexpected outcomes.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
experienced technical problems
Replaces "difficulties" with "problems", a more general term for issues.
faced technical issues
Substitutes "encountered" with "faced" and "difficulties" with "issues", offering a slightly less formal tone.
had technical setbacks
Replaces "encountered technical difficulties" with a more concise term.
ran into technical glitches
Uses "ran into" for a more casual tone and "glitches" to refer to minor technical problems.
met with technical obstacles
Replaces "difficulties" with "obstacles", implying more significant challenges.
technical snags arose
Uses more informal terms like "snags" and implies that difficulties arose spontaneously.
technical hitches occurred
Substitutes "difficulties" with "hitches" and "encountered" with "occurred".
technical challenges presented themselves
More formal and emphasizes the challenges as something that emerged.
we struggled with technical aspects
Focuses on the struggle rather than directly stating the difficulties.
technical complications arose
Replaces "difficulties" with "complications", suggesting a more intricate problem.
FAQs
What are some alternatives to saying "encountered technical difficulties"?
You can use alternatives like "experienced technical problems", "faced technical issues", or "had technical setbacks" to convey a similar meaning.
Is it better to specify the "technical difficulties" rather than just stating them generally?
Yes, providing specific details about the nature of the technical difficulties makes your writing clearer and more informative. For example, instead of saying "We encountered technical difficulties", you could say "We encountered technical difficulties with the server configuration".
How can I avoid using passive voice when writing about "encountered technical difficulties"?
To avoid passive voice, identify the actor performing the action. Instead of "Technical difficulties were encountered", specify who encountered the difficulties: "The developers encountered technical difficulties".
What's the difference between "encountered technical difficulties" and "faced technical challenges"?
While both phrases are similar, "faced technical challenges" often implies a more proactive approach to overcoming the issues, whereas "encountered technical difficulties" is a more neutral statement of having experienced problems.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested