has caused difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has caused difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that has led to challenges or problems. Example: "The recent changes in policy have caused difficulties for many employees trying to adapt to the new procedures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Deregulation has caused difficulties for carriers and carrier labour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ella's height has caused difficulties for her growing up, but I think it's really beautiful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some say that that has caused difficulties in zeroing in on terrorists, their ISIS leaders.

The Washington Post

This is a lot for a single project to accomplish, and has caused difficulties.

The Economist

Children's separation from the natural environment in an urban area has caused difficulties in their mental and physical development.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mike Leadbetter, Kensington and Chelsea's interim director of housing and social services, said: "The Bolton case has caused difficulties in all the IRT pilots.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

If Mr. Cuesta's refusal to moralize has caused difficulty, it has also brought unexpected rewards.

The New York Times

We apologise for this oversight and recognise that this, among other issues outside the council's control, has caused difficulty for all parties".

The Guardian

Conventional disinfection methods have not been successful in eliminating Listeria monocytogenes from biofilms, which has caused difficulty in eradicating the pathogen from the food processing environment.

Food Control

The derailment has caused difficulty for commuters, who have had to seek alternate means of transportation to and from the city.

The New York Times

Oil prices are not as high in real terms now as they were after the Yom Kippur war thirty years ago, all the same, finance ministers in the oil consuming countries say the recent rise in oil prices has caused difficulty.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has caused difficulties", ensure the sentence clearly identifies the subject that caused the difficulties and the specific area affected. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences using "has caused difficulties" in a way that obscures who or what is responsible. Instead of saying, "Difficulties have been caused", specify the actor: "The policy change has caused difficulties."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has caused difficulties" functions as a causative construction, indicating that a specific action or event has resulted in challenges or problems. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is perfectly valid and usable. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing consequences across various domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has caused difficulties" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe situations where a specific event or action has led to challenges or problems. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts. It's crucial to clearly identify the cause and affected area when using this phrase. While versatile, consider more formal alternatives like "has presented challenges" or "has created complications" for certain academic or professional settings. Avoiding passive voice constructions can improve clarity. The phrase appears frequently in news media, scientific articles, and business communications, reflecting its broad applicability in describing challenges and obstacles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has presented challenges

Replaces "difficulties" with a more general term, "challenges", suggesting a situation needing effort to overcome.

has created complications

Substitutes "difficulties" with "complications", implying increased complexity and potential entanglement.

has posed problems

Replaces "caused difficulties" with "posed problems", focusing on the act of presenting issues.

has led to setbacks

Shifts the focus to the consequence, highlighting the hindrance or delay resulting from the situation.

has engendered obstacles

A more formal alternative, "engendered obstacles", emphasizes the creation of impediments.

has precipitated issues

Uses "precipitated" to suggest that something has hastened the arrival of problems.

has brought about adversity

Highlights the negative impact and hardship resulting from the situation.

has triggered impediments

Focuses on the act of initiating or setting off obstacles.

has complicated matters

Indicates that something has made things more complex or difficult to manage.

has been a source of trouble

Changes the structure to emphasize the ongoing nature of the problem as a source of difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "has caused difficulties" in a sentence?

Use "has caused difficulties" to describe a situation or event that has led to challenges or problems. For example, "The new regulations "has caused difficulties" for small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "has caused difficulties"?

You can use alternatives like "has presented challenges", "has created complications", or "has posed problems" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "has caused difficulties" formal or informal?

"Has caused difficulties" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "has engendered obstacles" may be more appropriate for academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "has caused difficulties" and "has caused problems"?

While similar, "has caused difficulties" often implies a situation that requires effort or skill to resolve, whereas "has caused problems" is a more general term for any issue or trouble that has arisen. "Problems" may be simpler to solve than "difficulties".