look at difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look at difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of examining or considering challenges or obstacles in a situation. Example: "In order to find a solution, we must first look at difficulties that may arise during the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Among other things, this will specifically look at difficulties consumers may be having obtaining PAC codes," an Ofcom spokesperson says.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Just look at the difficulties being endured by high street retailers such as HMV and Waterstones.

The Guardian

Participants considered it important to look at potential difficulties and address them openly.

The Guardian

If you look at the difficulties in our time compared to [the 1950s side], it was a greater achievement.

Independent

"The point is, when you look at the difficulties something like this raises in terms of interpretation, you wonder whether you are not seeing some sort of extraordinary example of a coincidence in both experiments," he adds.

The Guardian

They also want the report to look at the "difficulties faced by medical schools and medical centers".

Science Magazine

In this paper we will closely look at these difficulties from the perspective of the intensive EU-funded summer-course on Interaction Design with four participating institutes coming from four different EU countries.

Computers & Education

Just look at the difficulties with the Volcker rule that was designed to bring back some level of restriction to commercial banks trading with client deposits.

Huffington Post

In a memo to local superintendents, a deputy commissioner, James Kadamus, said that the state analysis would look at the difficulty of individual questions and the cumulative difficulty of the questions, and would compare student performance the last three times the exam was administered.

The New York Times

Just look at the difficulty in dealing with Greece.

The Guardian - Business

There are plenty of interesting genetic markers for scientists to look at; the difficulty lies in proving that they reliably correlate with clinical outcome.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "look at difficulties", ensure the context clearly defines what specific difficulties are being addressed. Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "look at difficulties" without specifying which difficulties are relevant. Overgeneralization can make your writing vague and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look at difficulties" primarily functions as a verb phrase with a prepositional complement. It serves to introduce an examination or consideration of existing problems. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. For example, "Participants considered it important to look at potential difficulties and address them openly."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look at difficulties" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote the act of examining or considering problems. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, although more specific alternatives may enhance clarity. It appears most frequently in news, scientific, and wiki sources. To improve your writing, remember to specify the difficulties you are addressing and avoid overgeneralization. Top sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employ this expression. Consider using alternatives such as "examine the challenges" or "consider the problems" for a more nuanced approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Examine the challenges

This alternative replaces "look at" with "examine", suggesting a more detailed and thorough investigation.

Consider the problems

This alternative uses "consider" instead of "look at", implying a more thoughtful and reflective approach.

Address the issues

This alternative focuses on taking action to deal with the difficulties.

Analyze the complications

This alternative suggests a more analytical and detailed examination of the difficulties.

Assess the hardships

This alternative emphasizes the severity and impact of the difficulties.

Investigate the obstacles

This alternative implies a systematic and formal inquiry into the difficulties.

Explore the predicaments

This alternative suggests a more open-ended and exploratory approach to understanding the difficulties.

Study the trials

This alternative emphasizes a careful and methodical examination of the difficulties, often in an academic context.

Review the setbacks

This alternative implies a retrospective examination of the difficulties, often in the context of project management or performance evaluation.

Scrutinize the snags

This alternative suggests a close and critical examination of minor difficulties or impediments.

FAQs

How can I use "look at difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "look at difficulties" to introduce a discussion or analysis of problems. For instance, "Before implementing the new policy, we need to look at difficulties that might arise".

What are some alternatives to "look at difficulties"?

You can use alternatives like "examine the challenges", "consider the problems", or "address the issues" to express a similar idea.

Is it better to say "look at difficulties" or "address difficulties"?

While both are correct, "look at difficulties" implies examination, whereas "address difficulties" suggests taking action to resolve them. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What does it mean to "look at difficulties" in a project?

To "look at difficulties" in a project means to identify and analyze potential problems or obstacles that could hinder its success. It involves careful consideration of possible risks and challenges.