met difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "met difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone is facing problems or obstacles. For example: "The team met difficulties when working on the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If we had a powerful government that met difficulties in a powerful way, we could deal with the troubles.

The New Yorker

First, students in Renmin University are relatively high proficient language learners; the project team met difficulties to differentiate between the abilities of highly proficient learners just based on the descriptors of CEFR.

Language Testing in Asia

Former studies have commonly lacked information about the number and identity of directly affected survivors, and consequently met difficulties with selecting a representative sample.

BMC Health Services Research

And projects in Beijing were delayed during the financing process because the domestic private actors met difficulties in obtaining loans from domestic banks due to the lack of a sound loan policy.

Environmental Management

Like many other similarity-based algorithms, when there is more than one known protein with the same similarity value to an unknown protein, we have met difficulties in choosing a proper reference.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The AEC review said it "met difficulty in obtaining the full set of requested records", and that "sufficient documentation was not readily available" due to a failure to appropriately handover documents from staff.

The Guardian

Another approach which met difficulty was searching the internet.

BMC Public Health

Exporting the blood samples was more simple in terms of documentation (a Material Transfer Agreement from the College of Medicine), but met difficulty in organizing a courier who had the capacity to transfer biological samples.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Although completion rates have been reported as more than 95% in many studies [ 4, 5], colonoscopists do meet difficulties during colon insertion in some situations.

BMC Gastroenterology

Unlike ADL/IADL indicators, the functional limitations indicator evaluates the level of severity: severity of functional limitations - as opposed to the number of domains with limitations - impacts more directly the risk of meeting difficulties in activities.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

However, it meets difficulty in estimating the original flow distribution.

Computer Networks

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "met difficulties", consider the context and choose synonyms if a more formal or informal tone is desired. Alternatives like "encountered challenges" or "ran into problems" can offer nuanced shades of meaning.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "met difficulties" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "ran into trouble" or "had some issues" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "met difficulties" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the experience of encountering problems or obstacles. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Science & Research

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "met difficulties" is a grammatically correct way to describe encountering problems or challenges. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it's important to consider the context. It is most frequently used in science, news and media, and encyclopedia contexts. Although it's considered a rarer phrase, the analysis indicates that more common alternatives like "encountered challenges" or "faced obstacles" might be more appropriate for informal situations. When using the phrase in writing, it is advisable to consider if the level of formality matches your target audience. The varied examples show a good range of sources, contributing to a solid understanding of its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered challenges

Replaces "difficulties" with "challenges", implying a slightly less severe situation.

faced obstacles

Substitutes "difficulties" with "obstacles", suggesting tangible impediments.

ran into problems

Uses a more informal and common expression to indicate encountering issues.

experienced setbacks

Focuses on the negative impact of the difficulties encountered.

had complications

Emphasizes the complexity and entanglement introduced by the difficulties.

struggled with issues

Highlights the effort and persistence required to deal with the difficulties.

contended with hardships

Implies more severe and prolonged difficulties.

underwent trials

Suggests a testing or proving process through the difficulties.

suffered adversity

Emphasizes the negative and potentially long-lasting impact of the difficulties.

navigated complexities

Focuses on the act of managing and overcoming intricate difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "met difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "met difficulties" to describe a situation where someone or something encountered problems or challenges. For example, "The project "met difficulties" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "met difficulties"?

Some alternatives to "met difficulties" include "encountered challenges", "faced obstacles", or "ran into problems". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is "met difficulties" formal or informal?

"Met difficulties" leans towards the formal side. For informal contexts, consider using phrases like "ran into trouble" or "had issues".

What's the difference between "met difficulties" and "encountered difficulties"?

"Met difficulties" and "encountered difficulties" are quite similar. "Encountered" might suggest a more passive or unexpected meeting with the difficulties, while "met" can imply a more active engagement with them, although the distinction is subtle.