Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
obstacle arise
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"obstacle arise" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a situation where difficulties or issues present themselves and must be dealt with. For example: "As the project progressed, several obstacles arose that threatened to delay the progress."
✓ Grammatically correct
Huffington Post
The New York Times
The Guardian - Sport
Automatica
BBC
HuffPost
Wikipedia
The New Yorker
University of California, Berkeley
The New York Times - Sports
Understanding and Solving Environmental Problems in the 21st Century Toward a new, integrated hard problem science
Huffington Post
Plosone
CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Health Policy and Planning
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
WikiHow
Princeton University
The Guardian
Comprehensive Biomedical Physics
Virology
Harvard Business Review
Stanford University
Forbes
Los Angeles Times
BMC Medical Education
BMC Health Services Research
Alternative expressions(4)
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
1 human-written examples
You have to trust that there is more snow beyond what your headlight can illuminate, have enough confidence in yourself to know that you can handle any terrain in front of you, and be cautious enough that you can quickly turn or stop should an obstacle arise.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
But a new obstacle arose when the companies were told that the commission wanted a buyer before it considered the consent decree.
News & Media
Unless Ms. Kagan fumbles at her confirmation hearings next week or some other unforeseen obstacle arises, members of both parties expect she will be confirmed.
News & Media
The obstacle arose just as negotiators believed they were close to replacing the revenue from an earlier proposal, tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges, that had been rejected by another group of senators.
News & Media
His first obstacle arose after a family move to Norfolk and a spell in Norwich City's youth set-up: a persistent metatarsal injury led to medical advice that he should quit playing – at 16. Dwyer was lucky enough to get a second opinion from a British Olympic Association physiotherapist, who advised a year's rest and lots of patience.
News & Media
To overcome the main obstacle arising from unknown control directions, we develop a novel Lyapunov-based logic switching rule, and then the desired adaptive switching controllers are designed, where the controller parameters are to be tuned online in a switching manner according to the proposed switching logic.
Science
But during the 1980s, a new obstacle arose: game farming.
News & Media
Their intense desire to succeed regardless of obstacle arises because for them the mission is too important to fail.
News & Media
However, another obstacle arose with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which resulted in a boycott of the Games by a large part of the Western World, led by the United States.
Wiki
An obstacle arose with the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which resulted in a boycott of the Games by a large part of the Western world, led by the United States.
Wiki
Having qualified to swim for Australia, another obstacle arose with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which resulted in a boycott of the Games by a large part of the Western world, led by the United States.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "obstacle arise" to introduce unexpected problems in narratives or analytical contexts. Consider stronger verbs like 'emerge' or 'surface' for emphasis.
Common error
While grammatically sound, using "obstacle arise" too frequently in formal writing can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by incorporating synonyms like "difficulties emerge" or "challenges present themselves".
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
3.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "obstacle arise" primarily functions as a statement indicating the occurrence or emergence of a problem or challenge. It's used to introduce difficulties that were not previously apparent. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct but relatively rare.
Frequent in
News & Media
30%
Science
30%
Formal & Business
15%
Less common in
Academia
10%
Wiki
10%
Encyclopedias
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "obstacle arise" is a grammatically correct but infrequent phrase used to indicate the emergence of a problem or challenge. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness but also highlights its rarity compared to alternatives like "obstacles arise" or "difficulties emerge". Its register is neutral, making it suitable for various contexts, although careful consideration should be given to the frequency of its use to avoid sounding repetitive. The primary contexts where it appears are in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business writings.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
Difficulty emerges
Replaces "obstacle" with "difficulty" and "arise" with "emerges", softening the tone.
Problem surfaces
Substitutes "obstacle" with "problem" and "arise" with "surfaces", suggesting a hidden issue becoming visible.
Challenge presents itself
Replaces "obstacle" with "challenge" and uses a more formal structure with "presents itself".
Issue materializes
Substitutes "obstacle" with "issue" and "arise" with "materializes", emphasizing the concrete nature of the problem.
Setback occurs
Replaces "obstacle arise" with the single word setback occurs.
Impediment develops
Substitutes "obstacle" with "impediment" and "arise" with "develops", conveying a gradual hindering process.
Hurdle appears
Replaces "obstacle" with "hurdle" and "arise" with "appears", focusing on the need to overcome a specific barrier.
Complication unfolds
Replaces "obstacle" with "complication" and "arise" with "unfolds", suggesting a gradual and complex problem.
A snag arises
Replaces "obstacle" with "snag", indicating a small or unexpected difficulty.
A hitch develops
Replaces "obstacle" with "hitch", conveying a temporary malfunction or delay.
FAQs
How can I use "obstacle arise" in a sentence?
You can use "obstacle arise" to indicate the emergence of a problem or difficulty. For example, "As the project progressed, unexpected obstacles arose".
What can I say instead of "obstacle arise"?
You can use alternatives like "difficulty emerges", "problem surfaces", or "challenge presents itself depending on the context.
Which is correct, "obstacle arise" or "obstacles arise"?
"Obstacles arise" is more commonly used, as it acknowledges that multiple challenges may occur. "Obstacle arise" can be used when referring to a singular, specific problem, although this is less frequent.
What's the difference between "obstacle arise" and "difficulty emerges"?
While both phrases indicate the appearance of a problem, "difficulty emerges" may subtly imply a more gradual or unfolding issue, whereas "obstacle arise" can denote a more sudden or unexpected hindrance.
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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
82%
Authority and reliability
3.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested