identified the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "identified the problem" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of recognizing or diagnosing an issue in various contexts, such as technical reports, academic papers, or problem-solving discussions. Example: "After thorough analysis, the team identified the problem that was causing the system failures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Boards "haven't quite identified the problem yet," he said.

The New York Times

A 1997 report identified the problem as persistent.

The New York Times

"They identified the problem and fixed it," Carville said.

The New York Times - Sports

The difference is that we have identified the problem, and we're dealing with it".

The New York Times

In ITV's Sports Life Stories episode on John Barnes, Steve McManaman identified the problem.

The Guardian - Sport

Apple said it had identified the problem and replaced the problem program by Saturday morning.

The New York Times

We called the Health Department, which did some research and identified the problem".

The New York Times

The Times, Brand, and the N.C.A.A. have identified the problem; now who will solve it?

The New York Times - Sports

Labour have identified the problem of spiralling living costs, but this solution defies economic logic.

The Guardian

Dennis E. Leoni, the producer and creator of "Resurrection Blvd.," identified the problem as "more cronyism than racism".

The New York Times - Arts

— Nanna, Denmark A. NannaDenmark identified the problem as one-way communication.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "identified the problem", ensure that the context clearly indicates who made the identification and what specific steps were taken to address the problem. This adds credibility and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Don't stop at just saying you've "identified the problem". Specify the exact nature of the problem and provide evidence or data to support your claim. Vague statements weaken your argument and reduce clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "identified the problem" functions as a predicate within a sentence. It describes the action of recognizing and specifying a particular issue or difficulty. The Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "identified the problem" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the recognition of a specific issue. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts. To use it effectively, clearly specify who made the identification and the exact nature of the problem. Alternatives like "detected the issue" or "pinpointed the difficulty" can be used to add nuance, but specifying who made the identification and the exact nature of the problem are keys to strong writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detected the issue

Replaces "problem" with "issue" and "identified" with "detected", offering a slightly less formal tone.

pinpointed the difficulty

Uses "pinpointed" instead of "identified" and "difficulty" instead of "problem", suggesting a more precise discovery.

recognized the challenge

Substitutes "problem" with "challenge" and "identified" with "recognized", focusing on the nature of the issue as a challenge.

diagnosed the situation

Employs "diagnosed" in place of "identified" and "situation" for "problem", implying a more in-depth analysis.

uncovered the root cause

Replaces "identified the problem" with "uncovered the root cause", highlighting the discovery of the fundamental reason for the issue.

determined the source of the trouble

Uses "determined" instead of "identified" and "source of the trouble" instead of "problem", adding more detail about the origin of the issue.

ascertained the core issue

Employs "ascertained" in place of "identified" and "core issue" for "problem", suggesting a formal and certain discovery.

located the source of difficulty

Replaces "identified" with "located" and rephrases "problem" as "source of difficulty", changing the emphasis slightly.

found the crux of the matter

Uses a more idiomatic expression, replacing "identified the problem" with "found the crux of the matter", focusing on the most important point.

figured out what went wrong

Substitutes "identified the problem" with a more conversational "figured out what went wrong", making it less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "identified the problem" in a sentence?

You can use "identified the problem" to indicate that a specific issue or challenge has been recognized. For example, "The team "identified the problem" and is now working on a solution".

What can I say instead of "identified the problem"?

Alternatives include "detected the issue", "pinpointed the difficulty", or "recognized the challenge" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "identified the problem" or "identify the problem"?

"Identified the problem" is used when the problem has already been recognized in the past. "Identify the problem" is used as an instruction or a future action.

What's the difference between "identified the problem" and "uncovered the root cause"?

"Identified the problem" means recognizing the existence of an issue. "Uncovered the root cause" implies digging deeper to find the fundamental reason behind the issue, which goes beyond simple identification.