it caused difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it caused difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or event that led to challenges or problems. Example: "The sudden change in the project timeline caused difficulties for the entire team, making it hard to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It caused difficulties to rescue teams for providing assistance.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

His knowledge of her made it easy for him to arrange her music, but sometimes it caused difficulties.

Wikipedia

One patient in our study (P19) reported having incorrectly connected the two ends of the dialyser once, but her carer spotted the error before it caused difficulties.

BMC Nephrology

However, it caused difficulties when readers came up against the limits of their own health literacy or reading literacy and when they were overwhelmed, for example with complicated and complex texts.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It caused difficulty for opposing centre-backs, who were unsure as to where they should be and who they should mark.

The Guardian - Sport

He said he had stopped taking the medication, a drug called Lexapro, before the Tour of California in February because he said it caused difficulty in concentrating and water-weight gain.

The New York Times - Sports

One disadvantage of these papers is lack of presenting simulation procedure so it causes difficulties for readers to follow and simulate by themselves later.

Environmental Systems Research

Irrigation by flooding provides this crop with particular characteristics, including at harvest, when it causes difficulties for machinery traffic due to the high soil water content.

Geoderma

However, it causes difficulties in strain measurement and in the determination of true stress and true strain, particularly at higher strain rates.

Polymer Testing

While controlling for the time and attention inputs was necessary, it causes difficulties for interpreting the findings.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

When this occurs it causes difficulties for clinicians trying to apply the best available evidence in the care of their patients, as it is not clear which is the best evidence to follow.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it caused difficulties", ensure that the pronoun "it" refers to a clearly defined subject in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it caused difficulties" when the antecedent of "it" is unclear or ambiguous; specify what exactly led to the difficulties for better clarity and impact. For example, instead of "The situation was complex, and it caused difficulties", write "The complexity of the situation caused difficulties".

Linguistic Context

"It caused difficulties" functions as a clause within a sentence, typically serving as the predicate. It asserts that a preceding event or situation led to problematic circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it caused difficulties" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that something resulted in problems or challenges. Ludwig AI analysis shows the phrase is most commonly found in scientific publications, news articles, and wiki content. While versatile, the phrase may benefit from more specific and formal alternatives in certain academic or professional settings. Remember to ensure the antecedent of "it" is clear to maintain clarity. Be aware of better alternative usage of "it presented challenges".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it presented challenges

Replaces "difficulties" with "challenges", suggesting a more proactive and less negative framing.

it created problems

Uses "problems" instead of "difficulties", indicating a more serious negative impact.

it posed an obstacle

Focuses on the hindering aspect, framing the difficulty as something to be overcome.

it engendered complications

More formal, using "engendered" and "complications" to suggest a complex negative outcome.

it led to setbacks

Emphasizes the delay or reversal caused by the difficulty.

it proved problematic

Shifts the focus to the characteristic of being problematic rather than the act of causing.

it resulted in a predicament

Highlights the resulting difficult or dangerous situation.

it triggered issues

Suggests that the difficulties were activated or set off by something.

it sparked a snag

More informal, using "snag" to denote a small or unexpected difficulty.

it generated friction

Implies the difficulties caused conflict or disagreement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it caused difficulties" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it engendered complications", "it presented challenges", or "it resulted in significant setbacks".

What are some less formal ways to say "it caused difficulties"?

Informal alternatives include "it sparked a snag", "it created problems", or simply "it made things hard".

When is it appropriate to use "it caused difficulties" in writing?

"It caused difficulties" is suitable when referring to a specific, identifiable issue that led to challenges. Ensure the subject, the "it", is clear to the reader.

What words are similar to "difficulties" in the phrase "it caused difficulties"?

Synonyms for "difficulties" in this context include "challenges", "problems", "complications", "setbacks", and "issues". Each offers a slightly different nuance depending on the context. You can also use "it posed an obstacle".