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
hurdle to doing
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase “hurdle to doing” is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to an obstacle or difficulty that stands in the way of accomplishing something. For example, "Getting furniture up to the third floor was a major hurdle to doing the remodel."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
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
4 human-written examples
Dr. Altman noted that for years, health analysts had assumed that the primary hurdle to doing something about the uninsured was the lack of money.
News & Media
During an hour and a half of oral arguments on Monday, the justices showed their interest in addressing the merits of the case and their skepticism that the Anti-Injunction Act posed an insurmountable hurdle to doing so.
News & Media
Refresh rates are still a major hurdle to doing anything beyond page flipping.
News & Media
A recent report from the European Union showed that 95% of Czechs perceive corruption as a problem, and 71% of companies consider it to be the main hurdle to doing business in the country.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
Of course it's an insurmountable hurdle to do it.
News & Media
The group, which started last summer in Beijing, aims to help Chinese investors overcome cultural, political and logistical hurdles to doing business in the United States.
News & Media
India — where poor infrastructure, crippling bureaucracy and policy squabbles have long presented huge hurdles to doing business — has been especially hard hit by the souring investor sentiment toward emerging markets.
News & Media
The poor live outside the law this way because living within the law is impossible: corrupt legal systems and warped rules force those at the bottom of the world economy to spend years leaping absurd hurdles to do things by the book.
News & Media
The first hurdle has to do with how soon the various technologies are developed, can be made to work safely inside the human body without rejection, while the complementary ecosystem matures.
News & Media
we couldn't get over the hurdle in how to do this," Koo said.
News & Media
Because if 3D printing is ever going to matter to the general public, it needs to tackle two huge hurdles: it needs to do more than print mostly-useless plastic tchotchkes (think integrated electronics printing, a la the Voltera), and it needs to be far more accessible than it currently is.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "hurdle to doing", ensure the context clearly defines what action is being impeded. Specificity enhances clarity.
Common error
Avoid using "hurdle to doing" when a more direct phrase like "difficulty in doing" is more appropriate. Overusing "hurdle" can dilute its impact.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "hurdle to doing" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. Ludwig AI shows examples where it identifies a specific obstacle that hinders an action.
Frequent in
News & Media
67%
Science
19%
Formal & Business
14%
Less common in
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "hurdle to doing" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to describe something that impedes action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, highlighting that it's mainly used in news and media contexts. While not extremely frequent, it serves to point out a specific obstacle, and can be replaced by similar phrases such as "obstacle to undertaking" or "impediment to carrying out", depending on the desired level of formality. When employing this phrase, make sure the action being hindered is clear to ensure effective communication.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
obstacle to undertaking
Replaces "hurdle" with "obstacle" and "doing" with "undertaking", slightly altering the formality.
impediment to carrying out
Substitutes "hurdle" with "impediment" and "doing" with "carrying out", resulting in a more formal tone.
challenge to accomplishing
Replaces "hurdle" with "challenge" and "doing" with "accomplishing", conveying a sense of difficulty.
barrier to executing
Substitutes "hurdle" with "barrier" and "doing" with "executing", emphasizing prevention.
difficulty in performing
Replaces "hurdle" with "difficulty" and "doing" with "performing", indicating trouble or hardship.
setback to achieving
Shifts the focus to the negative impact, using "setback" instead of "hurdle" and "achieving" instead of "doing".
hindrance to completing
Replaces "hurdle" with "hindrance" and "doing" with "completing", focusing on obstruction.
drawback to enacting
Substitutes "hurdle" with "drawback" and "doing" with "enacting", highlighting potential disadvantages.
complication in fulfilling
Replaces "hurdle" with "complication" and "doing" with "fulfilling", suggesting a complex issue.
stumbling block to realizing
Uses a more idiomatic expression, "stumbling block", instead of "hurdle" and "realizing" instead of "doing".
FAQs
How can I use "hurdle to doing" in a sentence?
You can use "hurdle to doing" to describe an obstacle that prevents the completion of an action. For example, "Lack of funding was a significant "hurdle to doing" the project".
What are some alternatives to "hurdle to doing"?
Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "obstacle to undertaking", "impediment to carrying out", or "challenge to accomplishing".
Is "hurdle to doing" formal or informal?
The phrase "hurdle to doing" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's most commonly found in news and media. More formal alternatives might include "impediment to carrying out".
What makes "hurdle to doing" different from "hurdle to be done"?
"Hurdle to doing" refers to an ongoing action being impeded. "Hurdle to be done" implies that a task is yet to be started and faces an obstacle. The former emphasizes the process, while the latter emphasizes the task itself.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested