find a workaround

USAGE SUMMARY

"find a workaround" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to find a creative or clever solution to a difficult problem or obstacle. For example, "We can't afford to buy the materials we need for this project, so let's try to find a workaround that is both cost-effective and efficient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Unless the team could find a workaround, he argued, the project was impractical.

Harvard Business Review

To itemize mail into its constituent parts you need to find a workaround like pieces of mail or letters.

The New York Times

NASA officials vowed in their news conference to try to restart the wheel or find a workaround to allow Kepler to resume planet-hunting.

The Washington Post

It seems that none of the companies concerned had written a driver for my sound card; it took more than 10 hours of effort to find a workaround.

MIT Technology Review

Some people managed to find a workaround, using unblocked websites such as Yahoo or virtual private network software to get around China's system of Internet censorship known as the Great Firewall to watch.

The Washington Post

Even if recruiters can find a workaround, the Kingdom's restrictive social norms present another problem when trying to attract the foreign talent on which plans to diversify the economy depend.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"The FBI may have found a workaround," she said.

The Guardian

Still, the regulator said, traders in Houston found a workaround.

The New York Times

So I found a workaround: I became an organizational psychologist.

The New York Times

Yet, even there, he still found a workaround within 10 minutes using his ancient Nokia phone to check his email.

Harvard Business Review

Apple's Mail program for OS X does not support read receipt requests by default, but some users have found a workaround with some technical fiddling.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before committing significant resources to a project, explore whether you can "find a workaround" for expensive or time-consuming steps.

Common error

Ensure that the "workaround" you find is practical and sustainable. Avoid solutions that are more complex or costly than the original problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "find a workaround" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of discovering an alternative method to overcome an obstacle or problem. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "find a workaround" is a useful verbal phrase for describing the process of discovering an alternative method to solve a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media sources, and it maintains a neutral register appropriate for various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the "workaround" is practical and sustainable, and consider simpler alternatives such as "find a solution" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find a way around

Uses more common language to express a similar idea.

craft a workaround

Suggests a skillful and possibly temporary solution.

invent a solution

Highlights the act of creating a new solution.

discover a solution

Focuses on the outcome of solving a problem.

conceive a workaround

Emphasizes the mental process of inventing a solution.

identify an alternative

Emphasizes recognizing a different option.

devise a plan B

Highlights the creation of a backup strategy.

engineer a fix

Implies a technical or clever resolution.

generate a bypass

Highlights the act of avoiding a restriction.

locate a detour

Focuses on finding an alternate route.

FAQs

How can I use "find a workaround" in a sentence?

You can use "find a workaround" to describe the process of discovering a solution to a problem. For example, "We need to "find a workaround" for the software bug before the product launch."

What's a simpler way to say "find a workaround"?

Alternatives include phrases like "find a solution", "find an alternative", or "find a way around", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "find a workaround" or "develop a solution"?

The choice depends on the situation. "Find a workaround" suggests a temporary or less-than-ideal fix, while "develop a solution" implies a more permanent and comprehensive approach.

What's the difference between "find a workaround" and "invent a solution"?

"Find a workaround" implies discovering an existing, possibly unconventional, method. "Invent a solution" suggests creating a completely new method.