facing a difficult problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "facing a difficult problem" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or obstacles that require attention or resolution. Example: "The team is currently facing a difficult problem that requires innovative solutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

'I was facing a difficult problem.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As already noted, logical empiricism faced a difficult problem in distinguishing between genuine laws and accidental generalizations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So it's time to reconsider whether the United States still faces a difficult problem with Mexican immigration.

The New York Times

TOKYO — When a South African mining company faced a difficult problem — how to get more black managers into leadership roles — it called on an unexpected source for help, a nonprofit group affiliated with a U.S. business school.

The New York Times

"The E.C.B. faced a difficult problem: it was setting a unique monetary policy for countries with very different monetary needs," Tano Santos, a professor of economics and finance at Columbia Business School, said.

The New Yorker

Brush and small trees burned in most cases, but firefighters faced a difficult problem northeast of Los Angeles at the Lake Arrowhead resort, where a forest fire erupted early in the afternoon and added to the plume of smoke hanging over most of the region.

The New York Times

Developments of high-strength aluminum alloys have always faced a difficult problem: owing to their small size, the early-stage strengthening precipitates are difficult to characterize in terms of composition, structure and evolution.

Acta Materialia

Direct discovery of complex patterns from the audit trails faces a difficult problem of finding appropriate candidate patterns in a huge space of theoretically possible sequences of multisets of syntax trees and the values of parameters that determine a scope and periodicity of the patterns.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

In seeking answers, geologists are faced with a difficult problem.

The New York Times - Science

That means their administrators are faced with a difficult problem: how to keep their budgets balanced as their two main sources of revenue stagnate or shrink.

The New Yorker

We face here a difficult problem: we have a complete weighted directed network featuring flows from stations to centers, and the goal is to extract some meaningful information.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about challenges, consider using "facing a difficult problem" to introduce a situation that requires significant effort and strategic thinking to overcome. This sets a tone of serious engagement with the issue.

Common error

While "facing a difficult problem" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in casual settings. Opt for more informal alternatives like "having a tough time" or "dealing with a snag" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "facing a difficult problem" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as part of the predicate in a sentence. It introduces a situation or challenge that requires attention and effort to resolve, which is confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "facing a difficult problem" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a challenging situation requiring effort and attention. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. The phrase finds its primary use in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional register. While versatile, it's advisable to use more informal alternatives in casual settings. Remember to convey the seriousness and complexity of the situation when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountering a tough challenge

Replaces "difficult problem" with "tough challenge", emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

grappling with a complex issue

Substitutes "facing" with "grappling", highlighting the struggle involved, and "difficult problem" with "complex issue", suggesting intricacy.

confronting a thorny matter

Uses "confronting" instead of "facing" and "thorny matter" to replace "difficult problem", implying a troublesome situation.

dealing with a problematic situation

Replaces "facing" with "dealing with" and "difficult problem" with "problematic situation", indicating a troublesome scenario that needs handling.

tackling a demanding task

Substitutes "facing" with "tackling", indicating active engagement, and "difficult problem" with "demanding task", emphasizing the effort required.

navigating a tricky situation

Uses "navigating" instead of "facing" and "tricky situation" to replace "difficult problem", suggesting a need for careful maneuvering.

experiencing a challenging predicament

Replaces "facing" with "experiencing" and "difficult problem" with "challenging predicament", highlighting the challenging nature of the situation.

resolving a complex dilemma

Substitutes "facing" with "resolving", indicating an intention to find a solution, and "difficult problem" with "complex dilemma", suggesting a situation with difficult choices.

addressing a complicated matter

Uses "addressing" instead of "facing" and "complicated matter" to replace "difficult problem", implying the need for careful consideration.

contending with a troublesome issue

Replaces "facing" with "contending with" and "difficult problem" with "troublesome issue", highlighting the need to manage a problematic situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "facing a difficult problem" in an email?

Depending on the context, consider using phrases like "encountering a challenge", "addressing an issue", or "working through a complication".

Is it appropriate to use "facing a difficult problem" in a formal report?

Yes, "facing a difficult problem" is suitable for formal reports. However, ensure the tone aligns with the overall formality of the document. Alternatives like "confronting a complex issue" or "addressing a critical challenge" can also be used.

What's the difference between "facing a difficult problem" and "having a problem"?

"Facing a difficult problem" implies an active engagement with a challenge that requires significant effort. "Having a problem" is more general and doesn't necessarily convey the same level of active confrontation or difficulty. Using "experiencing difficulties" can sometimes bridge the gap, depending on the specific context.

Are there more nuanced alternatives to "facing a difficult problem" for academic writing?

In academic writing, you might use more precise alternatives such as "grappling with a complex issue", "contending with a thorny matter", or specifying the type of problem, for example, "facing a methodological challenge" or "addressing a theoretical impasse".