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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
might cause difficulty
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "might cause difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential challenges or obstacles that may arise in a situation or task. Example: "The new software update might cause difficulty for users who are not familiar with the changes."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Wiki
News & Media
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
7 human-written examples
This might cause difficulty in the assessment and evaluation of the mechanical and physical properties at structural level.
Science
When asked to choose from a list factors that might cause difficulty in teaching evolutionary medicine, 26.4% believed that religious issues would cause most difficulty and 24.7% believed that the current medical curriculum is already too lengthy to incorporate evolutionary medicine in it.
This might cause difficulty to determine how much of the total improvement of HRQoL is caused by the fusion alone and how much by the coexisting decompression procedure.
As the centrally located implant stem might cause difficulty with the placing of typical implants (e.g. screw-plate device or a cephalomedullary nail), 3 parallel cannulated cancellous screws in a triangular configuration were used for fixation of the fracture.
Science
Although the conditions for readmission for patients with a specific subtype of diabetes were relatively consistent at different time intervals, the diagnoses we used relied on the ICD-10 rather than on diagnose-related groups, which might cause difficulty in disease clustering.
Science
Since the models selected for the two last regions could lead to parameter interaction, which might cause difficulty in reaching stationarity [ 88], we tested six different combinations of models (Additional file 1: Table S5) to choose the parameters that would best fit the data for these two genetic markers.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
"I know the slowdown that is taking place in terms of getting decisions taken because the decisions that we might take might cause difficulties for Gerry Adams and his colleagues in the Dáil," he said.
News & Media
This might cause difficulties in the maintenance of large packages and platforms, but will encourage the researchers to provide smarter solutions, e.g., providing an online version to make the whole process of developing, sharing and updating much quicker for both developers and users.
Science
But when Hayes's supporters made overtures to southern Democrats, offering assurances that the president-elect would take no active role in propping up Republican governors in Louisiana and South Carolina, there were fears that Morton might cause difficulties.
Wiki
They even justified this and said that the shouting and moving might cause difficulties for delivery.
Science
There is a lack of a standardized measurement of functional decline, which might cause difficulties when comparing different studies.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "might cause difficulty", consider specifying the area or task where the difficulty may arise for clarity. This provides context and makes the statement more informative.
Common error
Avoid using "might cause difficulty" without providing any context or explanation. A general statement lacks impact. Always specify what kind of difficulty and in what situation.
Source & Trust
78%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "might cause difficulty" functions as a hedge, softening a claim about potential problems. It indicates a possibility rather than a certainty that something will lead to complications. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and used in various contexts.
Frequent in
Science
57%
Wiki
21%
News & Media
21%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "might cause difficulty" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate potential challenges or complications. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across diverse contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, you should strive for specificity by clearly indicating what kind of difficulty is anticipated and in what situation. Related alternatives include "could present challenges" and "may create complications", which can add nuance to your writing. Be mindful of providing sufficient context to avoid vagueness. Overall the frequency of the phrase is uncommon.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
could present challenges
Replaces "cause difficulty" with "present challenges", focusing on the act of posing a challenge.
may create complications
Substitutes "cause difficulty" with "create complications", highlighting the potential for complex problems to emerge.
could lead to problems
Replaces "cause difficulty" with "lead to problems", emphasizing a direct causal relationship resulting in issues.
may give rise to issues
Changes the verb to "give rise to", suggesting the emergence of issues.
could pose an obstacle
Replaces "cause difficulty" with "pose an obstacle", focusing on the hindering aspect.
may engender hurdles
Substitutes with "engender hurdles", indicating the creation of obstacles.
could bring about setbacks
Focuses on the potential for delays or reverses using "bring about setbacks".
may precipitate adversity
Uses "precipitate adversity" to denote the hastening of unfavorable conditions.
could result in a predicament
Emphasizes a challenging or complicated situation with "result in a predicament".
may complicate matters
Replaces "cause difficulty" with "complicate matters", stressing increased complexity.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "might cause difficulty" to sound more formal?
For a more formal tone, you could use phrases such as "may present challenges", "could create complications", or "may give rise to issues".
Is there a difference between "might cause difficulty" and "may cause difficulty"?
The words "might" and "may" are often interchangeable in this context. Both suggest a possibility but not a certainty that something will cause difficulty. "Might" can sometimes imply a slightly lesser likelihood than "may", but the difference is minimal.
What are some synonyms for "difficulty" that I can use after "might cause"?
Instead of "difficulty", you can use words such as "problems", "challenges", "complications", "obstacles", or "setbacks", depending on the specific context. For example, "might cause problems" or "might cause challenges".
How to use "might cause difficulty" in a sentence?
You can use "might cause difficulty" to indicate a potential problem or challenge. For example: "The new software update "might cause difficulty" for some users" or "Implementing these changes "might cause difficulty" in the short term".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
78%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested