major hurdles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "major hurdles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to significant obstacles or challenges that need to be overcome in a particular situation or process. Example: "The project faced several major hurdles before it could be successfully completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To do so, it faces major hurdles.

The New York Times

Privacy and security are also major hurdles.

The Guardian

Then there are the major hurdles.

The Guardian - Business

Land, transportation and funding remain major hurdles.

The New York Times

Even so, the bill faces major hurdles.

The New York Times

The United-Continental deal has some major hurdles to clear.

The New York Times

Either of those courses would include major hurdles.

The New York Times

The redistricting plan still has some major hurdles to overcome.

The New York Times

The transaction still has several major hurdles to clear.

The New York Times

Major hurdles remain, however, before any casino is built at Belmont.

The New York Times - Sports

But the deal faces major hurdles, most crucially the support of Telefónica.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a complex process, using "major hurdles" can help highlight the most significant challenges and focus the reader's attention on them.

Common error

While "major hurdles" is a useful phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "significant obstacles" or "key challenges" to add variety and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major hurdles" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig AI indicates that it is generally considered correct and acceptable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major hurdles" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe significant challenges or obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread use. It's primarily employed in news, scientific, and formal business contexts to highlight difficulties that require considerable effort to overcome. While "major hurdles" is versatile, varying your vocabulary with synonyms like "significant obstacles" or "key challenges" can improve your writing style. Use "major hurdles" to clearly communicate the presence of substantial challenges in any situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant challenges

Simple substitution of "hurdles" with "challenges", retaining the original meaning.

significant obstacles

Replaces "hurdles" with "obstacles", maintaining the sense of challenges but with a slightly different connotation.

substantial obstacles

Uses "substantial" in place of "major", indicating a considerable degree of difficulty.

key challenges

Substitutes "major" with "key" and "hurdles" with "challenges", emphasizing the importance and difficulty of the obstacles.

primary challenges

Swaps "major" for "primary", specifying the most important hurdles.

formidable barriers

Uses "formidable" to highlight the difficulty and intimidation associated with the "barriers".

critical impediments

Replaces "hurdles" with a more formal term, "impediments", suggesting a significant hindrance.

considerable difficulties

Replaces both words, highlighting the degree of trouble instead.

principal difficulties

Substitutes with words that underline the main problems to be addressed.

tough obstacles

Uses "tough" to emphasize the difficulty of the obstacles.

FAQs

What does "major hurdles" mean?

The phrase "major hurdles" refers to significant challenges or obstacles that must be overcome in order to achieve a goal or complete a process. It implies that these challenges are substantial and require considerable effort to address.

What can I say instead of "major hurdles"?

You can use alternatives like "significant obstacles", "key challenges", or "formidable barriers" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "major hurdles" in formal writing?

Yes, "major hurdles" is appropriate for formal writing, as it is a clear and professional way to describe significant challenges. However, consider the specific audience and context to ensure it aligns with the overall tone.

How do "major hurdles" differ from "minor challenges"?

"Major hurdles" indicate substantial difficulties that could significantly impede progress, whereas "minor challenges" are smaller, less impactful issues that are easier to resolve.