experience difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

"experience difficulty" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to refer to the challenges or struggles one might be facing, such as in the example: "Many people facing financial hardship have experienced difficulty making ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When did he first experience difficulty socializing?

The New York Times

Advisers review technical areas where students may experience difficulty.

University of California, Berkeley

Some people may experience difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

Columbia University

As the disease progresses, people can experience difficulty with walking, balance and swallowing.

The Guardian

The majority of newborns successfully adapt to extra uterine life, some experience difficulty.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

Some young people experience difficulty making the transition from schooling to work.

International Encyclopedia of Education

Despite the proliferation of consumer health sites, lay individuals often experience difficulty finding health information online.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

However, such entities continue to experience difficulty in operationalizing sustainable practices in management decisions.

Ecological Economics

Many students experience difficulty transitioning to graduate school and the EECS program during their first year.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

This kind of explanation can certainly help us feel better when we experience difficulty.

University of California, Berkeley

The affected person may experience difficulty in breathing and may be weak, anxious, and depressed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing specific situations, follow "experience difficulty" with a gerund (e.g., "experience difficulty understanding") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "difficulty". "Experience difficulty in" is less common than "experience difficulty with" or "experience difficulty [doing something]".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experience difficulty" functions as a verb phrase, typically followed by a gerund or a prepositional phrase, to indicate that someone is encountering problems or challenges in a specific area. Ludwig AI validates this function, providing multiple examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

22%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "experience difficulty" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone is facing challenges or problems. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across academic, scientific, and journalistic contexts. While alternatives like "encounter challenges" or "struggle with" exist, "experience difficulty" provides a clear and versatile option. Pay attention to preposition usage (typically "with" or a gerund) for optimal clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter challenges

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'challenges', emphasizing the obstacle aspect.

face obstacles

Focuses on the impediments one must confront.

struggle with

Highlights the active effort to overcome a problem.

have trouble with

A more informal way of expressing difficulty.

find it hard to

Emphasizes the subjective feeling of difficulty.

meet with adversity

Elevates the level of the challenge, implying significant hardship.

undergo hardship

Highlights the suffering associated with the difficulty.

endure tribulations

Implies a prolonged and severe period of difficulty.

be challenged by

Passively acknowledges the presence of a difficulty.

have a hard time

Offers a more conversational alternative.

FAQs

How to use "experience difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "experience difficulty" to describe challenges someone is facing, for example: "Many students "experience difficulty" transitioning to graduate school.".

What can I say instead of "experience difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "encounter challenges", "struggle with", or "have trouble with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "experience difficulty in" or "experience difficulty with"?

"Experience difficulty with" is generally preferred, although "experience difficulty in" is also acceptable but less common. Using a gerund (e.g., "experience difficulty understanding") is often the clearest option.

What's the difference between "experience difficulty" and "have difficulty"?

While both phrases are similar, "experience difficulty" can imply a more profound or ongoing challenge compared to the more general "have difficulty".