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
had some obstacles
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "had some obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe challenges or difficulties encountered in a situation or process. Example: "During the project, we had some obstacles that delayed our progress, but we managed to overcome them."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Wiki
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
2 human-written examples
"We had some obstacles but stuck together as a team.
News & Media
"We've had some obstacles and ups and downs this year," Dayton Coach Brian Gregory said.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
Banks still have some obstacles to overcome, though, before that halo illuminates the full breadth of their customer base.
News & Media
Beyond their own critics, who keep insisting they are the Diet Coke version of a true Dream Team, the men have some obstacles, too.
News & Media
She has some obstacles to surmount, however: She has never raced at Chantilly and she has never gone farther than a mile, or 1,600 meters; the distance of the Prix de Diane is 2,100 meters.
News & Media
The SHIFT approach, for all its rigor and scope, is in some ways remarkably modest: the idea is that small structural adjustments to student life could change how students interact with one another — help them find their moral compass more easily, feel more at home on campus, have some obstacles cleared out of their path.
News & Media
In this case, we have some obstacles.
As much as I like the Wii U, it isn't as though Nintendo doesn't have some obstacles to surmount.
News & Media
StumbleUpon will still have some obstacles to overcome – the purpose of the web toolbar won't be immediately obvious to new users, especially those who reach it from partner sites like The Huffington Post.
News & Media
Yes, they have some obstacles and some threats, but they're not defined by those threats.
News & Media
However, dense HA has some obstacles such as non- or poor-osteoinductivity and low rate of biodegradation and porosity [ 14, 17].
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "had some obstacles", ensure the context clearly indicates what those obstacles were and how they were addressed. This provides a more complete and informative statement for the reader.
Common error
Avoid simply stating that you "had some obstacles" without providing any specifics. This can leave the reader wondering what challenges were faced and how they impacted the situation. Always provide context and details.
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "had some obstacles" functions as a clause element serving to indicate that some difficulties or challenges were experienced. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.
Frequent in
News & Media
40%
Science
35%
Wiki
25%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "had some obstacles" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the presence of challenges or difficulties, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to inform about the existence of problems encountered during a process or project. The phrase is frequently found in news and media sources, scientific articles, and general wikis, suggesting a neutral register. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide context and details about the obstacles encountered to provide a more comprehensive understanding. While this phrase is acceptable, it may be considered vague if no additional information is provided. Semantically related alternatives include "faced certain hurdles", "encountered a few setbacks" and "experienced several challenges".
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
experienced several challenges
Replaces "obstacles" with "challenges", a more general term for difficulties.
met with some difficulties
Employs "difficulties" as a synonym for "obstacles", focusing on the troublesome aspect.
faced certain hurdles
Replaces "obstacles" with "hurdles", implying challenges that need to be overcome.
encountered a few setbacks
Substitutes "obstacles" with "setbacks", suggesting temporary delays or reversals.
ran into a few problems
Uses "problems" instead of "obstacles", indicating difficulties requiring solutions.
contended with various impediments
Replaces "obstacles" with "impediments", suggesting hindrances to progress.
grappled with multiple issues
Substitutes "obstacles" with "issues", implying matters needing resolution.
navigated several difficulties
Replaces "had" with "navigated", implying skillful handling of difficulties.
overcame numerous challenges
Focuses on the act of overcoming rather than just encountering challenges.
addressed various difficulties
Highlights the action of dealing with the difficulties that were encountered.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "had some obstacles"?
You can use alternatives such as "encountered difficulties", "faced challenges", or "ran into problems" to express a similar meaning.
Is it better to say "had some obstacles" or "faced some obstacles"?
Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. "Faced some obstacles" might imply a more direct confrontation with the challenges, while "had some obstacles" is a more general statement.
When is it appropriate to use the phrase "had some obstacles"?
The phrase "had some obstacles" is appropriate when you want to acknowledge that difficulties were encountered during a process or project, without necessarily going into exhaustive detail. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
What does it mean to say someone "had some obstacles"?
Saying someone "had some obstacles" means they experienced challenges or difficulties that hindered their progress or success in a particular situation. It implies that they had to overcome these challenges to achieve their goals.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested