is a major constraint

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is a major constraint" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing limitations or restrictions that significantly impact a situation or decision. Example: "The lack of funding is a major constraint on our ability to expand the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the majority of ecosystems, many processes remain poorly understood, which is a major constraint for the derivation of adequate mathematical representations for conducting realistic simulations.

Procedia Environmental Sciences

One important caveat: sample size is a major constraint.

The New York Times

"Our lack of knowledge of saola biology is a major constraint to efforts to conserve it.

The Guardian

"Time is a major constraint and I consider myself lucky if I get quarter of an hour.

Independent

Pollution in the Tigris river caused by the discharge of drainage water from agricultural areas and sewage discharge near Baghdad is a major constraint to freshwater availability in Iraq," says a recent Brookings Institute report.

The Guardian

Narrow bandwidth is a major constraint of microstrip antennas.

Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal

Soil salinity is a major constraint to agriculture.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

de Bary is a major constraint to potato production worldwide.

Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology

"We're small and cash flow is a major constraint," Roys said.

TechCrunch

It is interesting that you mention that, but yes, capital is a major constraint in Nigeria.

Forbes

They say the limited number of aircraft is a major constraint.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is a major constraint", be specific about what it is constraining. Clarity enhances the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "is a major constraint" for minor issues. Reserve it for situations where the constraint genuinely has a significant impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is a major constraint" functions as a predicate nominative, identifying a subject as a significant limitation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is a major constraint" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to highlight significant limitations across various fields. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely accepted and understood. Predominantly found in scientific and academic contexts, it identifies key obstacles affecting processes, projects, or situations. Alternatives include "is a significant limitation" or "is a primary obstacle". When using this phrase, it is best to clearly specify what is being constrained to enhance clarity and impact. Avoid using it for minor issues to maintain its significance. The prevalence of the phrase in authoritative sources underscores its credibility and utility in formal and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a significant limitation

Replaces 'major' with 'significant', emphasizing the importance of the constraint.

is a primary obstacle

Substitutes 'constraint' with 'obstacle', highlighting the hindering effect.

is a key impediment

Uses 'impediment' instead of 'constraint', stressing the difficulty it poses.

is a substantial barrier

Replaces 'constraint' with 'barrier', focusing on the restrictive nature.

is a critical restriction

Emphasizes the limiting aspect with 'restriction' and 'critical'.

poses a considerable challenge

Shifts from a static constraint to an active challenge, indicating difficulty.

presents a notable difficulty

Highlights the problematic aspect using 'difficulty'.

severely limits

Focuses on the restrictive action rather than the static constraint.

significantly hinders

Emphasizes the impeding effect using 'hinders'.

seriously restricts

Highlights the restrictive aspect using 'restricts'.

FAQs

How can I use "is a major constraint" in a sentence?

Use "is a major constraint" to highlight a significant limitation or restriction. For example, "The lack of funding "is a major constraint" on our ability to expand the project."

What are some alternatives to saying "is a major constraint"?

You can use alternatives like "is a significant limitation", "is a primary obstacle", or "is a key impediment" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is a major constraint" or "is a significant challenge"?

While both phrases indicate difficulty, "is a major constraint" emphasizes a limitation or restriction, while "is a significant challenge" highlights a problem that requires effort to overcome.

What's the difference between "is a major constraint" and "is a minor constraint"?

"Is a major constraint" indicates a substantial limitation with significant impact, whereas "is a minor constraint" refers to a less significant limitation that has a smaller impact.