likely difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a probable challenge or obstacle that may arise in a given situation. Example: "The project may face likely difficulty due to the tight deadlines and limited resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The technology, they warned, posed a danger of quickening the spread of nuclear weapons because of the likely difficulty of detecting clandestine plants.

The New York Times - Science

Along with Asimov's later robot stories, it set a new standard of plausibility about the likely difficulty of developing intelligent robots and the technical and social problems that might result.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To counteract this bias, more challenging cases were preferentially selected for the test set, using striatal binding ratio results as a surrogate marker of the likely difficulty in classifying the data.

EJNMMI Research

David later hired Washington, D.C. attorney Tony Bisceglie to organize evidence acquired by Swanson and make contact with the FBI, given the likely difficulty in attracting the FBI's attention.

Wikipedia

Knowledge of the likely difficulty of a particular case would be useful for the selection of appropriate cases for trainee surgeons, based on their surgical experience.

BMC Ophthalmology

This scoring system is also of value in obtaining informed consent of patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery, in terms of imparting to the patient both the likely difficulty of the case, and the risk of complication.

BMC Ophthalmology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Di Montezemolo has also previously expressed the likely difficulties in managing "two foxes in the same henhouse", as Raikkonen and Alonso would undoubtedly prove.

Independent

This points to likely difficulties in modelling the effects of these motions in Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) models, in which there is no mechanism for representing this type of connection between the inner and outer layers of the flow.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

More likely, difficulties stem from a lack of familiarity with alcohol beverage types (beer versus liquor, for example) and with estimation of drink volumes consumed.

Alcohol research : current reviews

The family must be motivated and adhere to this therapy if it is to be successful so they should be preemptively apprised of likely difficulties, but assured the first few weeks are the most troublesome.

European Journal of Pediatrics

Some participants gave advice to Flora and stated what she should or must do, and it was only through further questioning that what she would do, or likely difficulties that she would face, came to light, if at all.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "likely difficulty", ensure the context clearly defines the source or cause of the potential problem. For instance, specify the specific project or task that may encounter "likely difficulty".

Common error

Avoid using "likely difficulty" when there is a high degree of certainty about a problem. In such cases, use stronger terms like "definite challenge" or "certain obstacle" to reflect the level of assurance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely difficulty" functions as a noun phrase where "likely" modifies the noun "difficulty". It indicates a probable challenge or obstacle that may arise. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is appropriate for general use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely difficulty" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote a probable challenge or obstacle. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase serves the communicative purpose of forecasting potential problems and preparing for them. While "likely difficulty" is a common and useful phrase, be mindful of overstating the certainty when a problem is definite; alternatives such as "definite challenge" may be more appropriate. Related phrases like "probable difficulty" and "expected difficulty" offer nuanced variations for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probable difficulty

Replaces "likely" with its synonym "probable", maintaining the same meaning.

expected difficulty

Substitutes "likely" with "expected", suggesting anticipation of the challenge.

potential challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge" and "likely" with "potential", shifting focus to a demanding task.

possible obstacle

Uses "possible obstacle" to convey a similar meaning, highlighting a potential barrier.

anticipated problem

Replaces "difficulty" with "problem" and "likely" with "anticipated", focusing on a potential issue.

foreseeable complication

Indicates a problem that can be foreseen, suggesting a slightly more formal tone.

predictable hardship

Emphasizes the hardship aspect of the difficulty and its predictability.

conceivable struggle

Highlights the struggle element, suggesting a mental or physical effort may be needed.

imminent setback

Implies that the difficulty is near and will cause a delay or reversal.

approaching crisis

Suggests the difficulty is escalating into a crisis situation, conveying a sense of urgency.

FAQs

How can I use "likely difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "likely difficulty" to describe a potential problem or challenge that is expected to occur. For example, "The project may face "likely difficulty" due to budget constraints."

What are some alternatives to "likely difficulty"?

Alternatives include "probable difficulty", "expected difficulty", or "potential challenge", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "likely difficulty" or "possible difficulty"?

"Likely difficulty" suggests a higher probability than "possible difficulty". Use "likely" when there's a reasonable expectation of the problem occurring; use "possible" when it's just a chance.

What's the difference between "likely difficulty" and "potential difficulty"?

"Likely difficulty" suggests a higher probability based on current circumstances, while "potential difficulty" refers to a problem that could arise depending on future conditions.