existing difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existing difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to challenges or problems that are currently present or ongoing in a particular situation. Example: "The team is working hard to address the existing difficulties in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"Despite the existing difficulties, I have great pleasure and satisfaction making films there.

The Guardian - Film

We have managed to hold off the specter of protectionism, which, as history has taught us, inevitably compounds existing difficulties.

The New York Times

There are a number of key government policies that are affecting the environment in which schools have to recruit and exacerbating existing difficulties.

The Guardian

To avoid this, set clear limits - if there are any existing difficulties in the relationship or dodgy power dynamics, working with a family member can be explosive.

The Guardian - Money

On top of the existing difficulties, May's speech on the Downing Street steps put further pressure on her health team by stressing her determination to tackle inequalities in life expectancy and providing better life chances for those suffering from mental illness.

The Guardian

Optimal cell sources and the reprogramming strategies also complicate the existing difficulties.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

However, the existing difficulty in obtaining fresh grafts due to the limited number of human donors and the need for size matching between the donor and the recipient demand the development of an effective preservation and storage method that can be used to bank donor meniscal tissue.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

A third of GPs in the UK plan to retire in the next five years because of high stress levels, unmanageable workloads and too little time with patients, in a move that would exacerbate the existing difficulty of getting an appointment.

The Guardian

Given the existing difficulty of passing legislation because of the failure, which is likely to endure, of either the Tories or Labour to command a majority this is a dire prospect for a system whose frailties Mr Salmond has a record of turning to his advantage.

The Economist

Likewise, the existence of depression can exacerbate previously existing cognitive difficulties.

Clinical interventions in aging

Survivors of other traumatic events -- Ms. Mendez narrowly escaped death in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center -- are at particular risk for such difficulties, the experts say, as are people burdened by other stresses and those with existing psychiatric difficulties.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "existing difficulties", provide specific examples or details to give your audience a clear understanding of the challenges involved.

Common error

Avoid using "existing difficulties" as a vague placeholder. Instead, specify the nature of the difficulties and their impact to provide more clarity and context to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existing difficulties" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It identifies challenges or problems that are currently present. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "existing difficulties" is a grammatically sound way to refer to current problems or challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not as common as simpler alternatives like "current challenges", it finds frequent use in scientific and news contexts, lending a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, it's best to be specific about the nature of the difficulties to provide clarity and context to your writing. Alternatives such as "prevailing issues" or "contemporary obstacles" can provide a similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current challenges

Focuses on the idea of something being a test of one's abilities; less formal.

present problems

Emphasizes the fact that issues are happening now.

ongoing struggles

Highlights the continuous nature of the effort or challenge.

prevailing issues

Indicates problems that are widespread or dominant.

contemporary obstacles

Implies that difficulties are modern or up-to-date.

incumbent hardships

Focuses on difficulties that are a burden or responsibility.

exacerbating factors

Terms focuses on making the challenges even more prominent.

live impediments

More formal synonyms that retains the emphasis on immediacy.

subsisting hurdles

Highlights hurdles that are present and impactful

enduring complications

Highlights the idea that the difficulties cause complexity and length.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "existing difficulties" to sound more formal?

Consider using more formal alternatives such as "prevailing issues", "incumbent hardships", or "contemporary obstacles".

What are some less formal ways to say "existing difficulties"?

You can use simpler phrases like "current challenges" or "present problems" depending on the context.

How do I use "existing difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe problems that are currently present, for example: "The project faces "existing difficulties" due to budget constraints".

What is the difference between ""existing difficulties"" and "arising difficulties"?

"Existing difficulties" refers to problems that already exist, while "arising difficulties" refers to new problems that are emerging.