major impediment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "major impediment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant obstacle or barrier that hinders progress or achievement in a particular context. Example: "The lack of funding has become a major impediment to the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is, no doubt, a major impediment.

The New York Times

A major impediment is lack of information.

Harvard University

Ultz's design is a major impediment.

The Guardian

Those costs have become a major impediment to recovery.

The New York Times

A major impediment to minimizing testing is patient expectation.

The New Yorker

The major impediment to change there is the union.

The New York Times

One major impediment is its location beneath federal land.

The New York Times

A major impediment to wider use is their low ductility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Maendeleo, a village elder, Benson Gacu, confirmed that price was a major impediment.

The New York Times - Health

"This will be a major impediment to Long Island," Dr. Kamer said.

The New York Times

The lack of information is a major impediment to stewardship of the resource.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "major impediment", ensure the context clearly defines what is being hindered. This will give the phrase more impact and relevance.

Common error

While "major impediment" is appropriate for formal writing, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. Simpler terms like "big problem" or "main issue" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major impediment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes a significant obstacle or barrier. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, such as economic development, scientific research, and social issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major impediment" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a significant obstacle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for formal contexts, including academic, scientific, and news-related writing. While simpler alternatives exist for informal communication, "major impediment" effectively highlights critical barriers to progress. The phrase's prevalence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in describing substantial challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant obstacle

Replaces "major" with "significant", offering a slightly less emphatic alternative.

key obstacle

Substitutes "major" with "key", highlighting the importance of the obstacle.

primary obstacle

Replaces "major" with "primary", emphasizing that it's the main hindrance.

serious barrier

Uses "serious barrier" instead of "major impediment", indicating a significant obstruction.

significant barrier

Replaces "major" with "significant" and "impediment" with "barrier", providing a more general term.

chief hindrance

Substitutes "major impediment" with "chief hindrance", stressing the act of delaying or preventing progress.

principal obstacle

Replaces "major" with "principal", denoting the main or most important obstacle.

main stumbling block

Replaces "major impediment" with a more figurative expression, "main stumbling block".

critical bottleneck

Uses "critical bottleneck" to suggest that the impediment is causing a slowdown or blockage.

substantial setback

Replaces the idea of a barrier with the consequence of a "substantial setback".

FAQs

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

You can use "major impediment" to describe something that significantly hinders progress. For example, "The lack of funding is a "major impediment" to the project's success".

What are some alternatives to "major impediment"?

Alternatives include "significant obstacle", "serious barrier", or "chief hindrance", depending on the context.

Is "major impediment" formal or informal language?

"Major impediment" is generally considered formal language, best suited for academic, professional, or news-related contexts. Informal situations may call for simpler phrasing.

What makes something a "major impediment" rather than just an impediment?

The adjective "major" emphasizes the significant impact or severity of the impediment. It highlights that the obstacle is substantial and notably hindering progress, whereas a simple "impediment" might suggest a lesser obstacle.