long standing difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long standing difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a problem or challenge that has persisted for an extended period of time. Example: "The team has been facing a long standing difficulty in meeting project deadlines due to resource constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Brown promised £150m of rapidly delivered agricultural compensation for farming and industries which "today face long standing difficulties".

The Guardian

Just days before Mitt Romney formally assumes the leadership of his party, he and his Republican colleagues are once again confronting the party's long-standing difficulty attracting the support of women — a demographic reality that could cost Mr. Romney the White House.

The New York Times

One main reason for this situation has been the long-standing difficulty of demonstrating intercisternal continuities in thin sections for electron microscopy.

eLife

As we noted at the beginning, the absence of any information about the reaction intermediates has been a long-standing difficulty that has hindered progress and the precise mechanism has yet to be established.

Biochemistry

A long-standing difficulty in understanding the specificity of T cell recognition is to reconcile the hypothesis that T-cell activation is determined by the lifetime of TCR-pMHC bond and the finding that widely different responses are induced by pMHCs that are bound with dissociation rates differing by a factor lower than 10.

European Journal of Immunology

(U) Lastly, U/S Burns asked for the President's assistance in resolving the long-standing difficulties in finalizing the lease for the new Embassy compound.

The Guardian

A briefing paper from NHS England describes the targeted localities as having deep-rooted and long-standing difficulties that are in need of transformation.

The Guardian

In the meantime, the knowledge of the Soviet-bloc countries' long-standing difficulties had given rise in many developing countries to a repugnance to Soviet planning methods, while the methods used in the developed noncommunist countries were felt to be not directly applicable, either.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr Kershaw will examine the long-standing difficulties at the trust before publishing a draft report on 29 October.

BBC

In a Regulatory Notice, the HCA said there were "chronic and long-standing difficulties" in the delivery of the repairs service to 13,000 homes in the London area covered by Circle 33 and Old Ford Housing Association, which are part of CA. Over a period of three months in Circle 33's 8,000 homes, less than 20% of urgent and emergency repairs were completed on time, the HCA said.

BBC

Interviews revealed the long-standing difficulties of living with HIV, particularly in the domains of intimate relationships, perceived stigma, and chronic ill health.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "long standing difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates the duration and impact of the problem. Use it when you want to emphasize that the issue has persisted for a significant amount of time and is not a recent development.

Common error

Avoid using "long standing difficulty" to describe a problem that has only recently emerged. This phrase is best reserved for issues that have been present for a considerable period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long standing difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, where "long standing" modifies the noun "difficulty". The phrase describes a specific type of difficulty – one that has existed for a considerable amount of time. This is reinforced by Ludwig AI, which deems the phrase correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long standing difficulty" is a grammatically sound and semantically precise way to describe a problem that has persisted over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, its presence across diverse sources—including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business—demonstrates its versatility. For writers seeking alternatives, phrases like ""chronic problem"" or ""persistent issue"" offer similar meanings. When employing "long standing difficulty", clarity regarding the issue's duration and impact is vital, and it's best reserved for problems that have demonstrably existed for an extended period.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chronic problem

Replaces "long standing" with "chronic", emphasizing the persistent nature of the difficulty.

persistent issue

Replaces "difficulty" with "issue" and "long standing" with "persistent", providing a slightly less formal tone.

enduring challenge

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge" and "long standing" with "enduring", highlighting the aspect of overcoming a problem.

protracted problem

Replaces "long standing" with "protracted", emphasizing the extended duration of the difficulty.

historical challenge

Emphasizes the challenge has been around for a long time.

long term problem

Replaces "standing difficulty" with the more direct "term problem".

deep-seated issue

Highlights that the issue is fundamental and ingrained.

ingrained difficulty

Emphasizes how the difficulty is firmly established.

long running problem

Highlights the problem has been happening continuously.

age old problem

Emphasizes the vintage/antiquity of the difficulty

FAQs

How can I use "long standing difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "long standing difficulty" to describe a problem that has existed for a long time. For example, "The company is facing a "long standing difficulty" in attracting younger customers."

What are some alternatives to "long standing difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "chronic problem", "persistent issue", or "enduring challenge" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "long standing difficulty" in formal writing?

Yes, "long standing difficulty" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing prolonged issues in business, academic, or official contexts. However, it should be used when you want to emphasize that the issue has persisted for a significant amount of time and is not a recent development.

What's the difference between "long standing difficulty" and "recent problem"?

"Long standing difficulty" refers to an issue that has persisted over time, whereas "recent problem" indicates an issue that has only emerged recently. They are opposites in terms of the timeframe of the issue.