largest impediment

USAGE SUMMARY

"largest impediment" is a valid phrase in written English.
It is generally used to describe an obstacle or difficulty that is especially hard to overcome. For example, "Time constraints were the largest impediment to completing this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But the largest impediment turned out to be that I'd lost my studying and test-taking skills.

The New York Times

The largest impediment is Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state and the annihilation of its people.

The New York Times

Modis found in a recent report that age is considered the largest impediment to diversity in technology, two and a half times as great as gender diversity and three times as great as ethnic diversity.

The New York Times

He heads an innocuously named interest group called Americans for Tax Reform ATRR) – and arguably he has done more than anyone to create the anti-tax dogma in the Republican party that is the single largest impediment to a deficit deal.

Independent

"That housing overhang is the single largest impediment to a recovery in the housing market".

Forbes

The largest impediment to active research in OA is the non-availability of a user-friendly approach to measure the concentration of hydroxyl ions (Gross and Pluduma 2012).

Progress in Biomaterials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The largest impediments now facing the application of biomass gasification for energy production are the inabilities of the current ancillary systems to allow for economical production of a clean producer gas, free of contaminants.

Biomass and Bioenergy

Although sustainable hydrogen production from solar energy is a promising route for the future, the cost of the necessary photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical devices as well as a lack of detailed understanding and control of catalyst interfaces in nanomaterials with high catalytic activity are the largest impediments to commercial implementation.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

"In its current form, developmental education may be one of the largest impediments to success in California's community colleges," the study said.

Los Angeles Times

But, as he told a journalist, "at least … I'm not waking up saying, 'Oh, no, did I kill someone last night?' " If the fire slowed him down artistically, a larger impediment arose soon afterwards.

The New Yorker

According to the HIS survey, 60% of the students "perceived the added financial burden as a large impediment".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largest impediment", clearly identify what is being impeded to provide context and emphasize the impact of the obstacle.

Common error

Avoid prematurely labeling something as the "largest impediment" without thoroughly analyzing all contributing factors. Overlooking smaller issues can undermine the identification of a more substantial obstacle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largest impediment" functions as a noun phrase, where "largest" modifies "impediment". It identifies and emphasizes the most significant obstacle or hindrance within a given context. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "largest impediment" is a grammatically correct and valid phrase used to denote the most significant obstacle in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While generally neutral to formal in register, it appears most frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Related phrases include "greatest obstacle" and "biggest hurdle". It is crucial to accurately identify the true "largest impediment" through careful analysis. The phrase serves to emphasize and draw attention to the primary factor hindering progress or success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatest obstacle

Replaces "impediment" with "obstacle" while maintaining the emphasis on the most significant barrier.

foremost barrier

Synonymous with "largest impediment", directly indicating a significant obstacle.

biggest hurdle

Uses "hurdle" to convey a challenge, implying a need to overcome it. "Biggest" is a synonym of "largest".

main stumbling block

Emphasizes the hindering nature of the impediment, suggesting something that causes one to falter.

most significant challenge

Replaces "impediment" with "challenge", framing it as something that requires effort to overcome.

primary obstruction

Replaces "impediment" with "obstruction", highlighting the act of blocking progress.

principal constraint

Highlights the restrictive nature of the impediment, emphasizing its role in limiting options.

chief restraint

Highlights the limiting aspect of the impediment, focusing on its role in holding back progress.

major deterrent

Focuses on the discouraging effect of the impediment, suggesting it prevents action.

biggest drawback

Focuses on the negative aspect of the impediment, portraying it as a disadvantage.

FAQs

How can I use "largest impediment" in a sentence?

Use "largest impediment" to describe the most significant barrier to achieving a specific goal. For example, "Lack of funding was the "largest impediment" to the project's success."

What are some alternatives to "largest impediment"?

You can use alternatives like "greatest obstacle", "biggest hurdle", or "main stumbling block" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "largest impediment"?

Yes, "largest impediment" is grammatically correct. "Largest" is an adjective modifying the noun "impediment".

What's the difference between "largest impediment" and "major impediment"?

"Largest impediment" implies it's the single most significant obstacle, while "major impediment" suggests a highly significant, but not necessarily the absolute biggest, obstacle. The choice depends on whether you're highlighting the single biggest issue or simply a significant one.