may struggle to

USAGE SUMMARY

'may struggle to' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to difficulty or hardship with completing something. For example, "The students may struggle to understand the complex material presented in the lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They may struggle to convince the latter.

The Economist

Marginal borrowers may struggle to pay debts.

The Economist

Real life may struggle to compete.

The Economist

Adults may struggle to cope.

The Guardian - Books

He may struggle to find coalition partners.

The Guardian - Opinion

Travellers may struggle to find acceptable accommodation.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They may struggle to find affordable housing.

The New York Times

But German carmakers may struggle to enter mass markets.

The Economist

But owners may struggle to make their views felt.

The Economist

The PA may struggle to pay its dues for March.

The Economist

Furthermore, rich-country multinationals may struggle to shed nationalistic cultures.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may struggle to", provide context about why the struggle might occur. This adds depth and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "may struggle to" as a vague statement. Always provide context or reasons why the subject might face difficulties. For example, instead of just saying "The company may struggle to succeed", specify "The company may struggle to succeed due to increased competition and changing market trends".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may struggle to" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a possibility or likelihood of experiencing difficulty or hardship. It is used to express a prediction or assessment about future events or actions, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may struggle to" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express the potential for difficulty or hardship in achieving a specific outcome. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news and media, as well as in scientific and business contexts. While it's important to provide context and avoid overuse, mastering the use of "may struggle to" can add nuance and accuracy to your writing. Use alternatives if appropriate. The Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous examples of its use in varied writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may have a hard time

Simple and direct expression of potential difficulty.

might find it difficult to

Emphasizes the difficulty aspect, suggesting a problem is likely.

could have trouble with

Focuses on the potential for problems or difficulties arising.

might face challenges in

Highlights the challenges that could be encountered.

may be challenged to

Highlights the aspect of being tested or pushed to one's limits.

could encounter obstacles in

Focuses on obstacles as potential impediments.

might be hard-pressed to

Suggests a significant effort will be needed.

might not easily

Understates the difficulty, implying a struggle without explicitly saying so.

could strain to

Implies a great effort will be made, possibly to the point of strain.

might wrestle with

Suggests an ongoing, active struggle.

FAQs

How to use "may struggle to" in a sentence?

Use "may struggle to" to indicate that something or someone might experience difficulty in achieving a specific outcome. For example, "The team "may struggle to" win the championship this year due to injuries."

What can I say instead of "may struggle to"?

You can use alternatives like "might find it difficult to", "could have trouble with", or "might face challenges in" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "may struggle to" or "will struggle to"?

"May struggle to" indicates a possibility, while "will struggle to" suggests a higher degree of certainty. Choose the phrase that best reflects the level of confidence you have in the prediction.

What's the difference between "may struggle to" and "are struggling to"?

"May struggle to" suggests a future or potential difficulty. "Are struggling to" indicates an ongoing, present difficulty. For instance, "They "may struggle to" adapt to the new rules" implies future difficulty, while "They are struggling to adapt to the new rules" means they are currently facing difficulties.