ongoing challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ongoing challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a challenge that is still happening and has yet to be resolved. For example: "Developing a sustainable energy system has been an ongoing challenge for many countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Managing these callouts is an ongoing challenge.

The Guardian

He adds, "I'm having an ongoing challenge to see my work outside myself.

The Guardian

She says the figures "reveal the scale of the ongoing challenge to reduce household food waste".

The Guardian

Eradicating drugs will be an ongoing challenge, as will persuading Afghans to give up their arms".

The New York Times

Finally, there is an ongoing challenge of legitimacy and effectiveness for all NGOs.

The Guardian

He said there was "an ongoing challenge" for delivering PSB on commercial channels.

The Guardian

There is the ongoing challenge of screwcaps, used on all his wines since 2002.

The New York Times - Food

Now "the ongoing challenge" for you and your partner is to maintain the flame.

The New Yorker

Governance and patriarchy An ongoing challenge for museums is achieving gender parity at board level.

The Guardian

Challenges: Finding the right talent — salespeople, developers and designers — has been an ongoing challenge.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, conflict with Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon was also an ongoing challenge.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ongoing challenge", ensure it clearly connects to the main subject of your sentence to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "ongoing challenge" as a vague placeholder. Always specify what makes the challenge ongoing and its specific impact, or what specific actions are necessary to face it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ongoing challenge" functions as a noun phrase describing a problem or task that persists over time. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts to identify continuous difficulties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ongoing challenge" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a problem or task that persists over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts. The primary contexts are Science and News & Media, indicating its relevance in both analytical and reporting scenarios. When using this phrase, it’s best practice to clearly link it to the core subject and avoid vague applications. Alternative phrases include "continuing obstacle" and "persistent difficulty", but these may subtly shift the emphasis. Using "ongoing challenge" effectively means understanding its communicative purpose: highlighting continuous difficulties requiring sustained effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continuing obstacle

Replaces 'challenge' with 'obstacle', emphasizing the hindering aspect.

persistent difficulty

Substitutes 'ongoing' with 'persistent' and 'challenge' with 'difficulty', highlighting the enduring nature.

unresolved issue

Focuses on the lack of resolution, implying the challenge is still present.

remaining hurdle

Replaces 'challenge' with 'hurdle', suggesting an obstacle that needs to be overcome.

current struggle

Emphasizes the present and difficult nature of the situation.

protracted problem

Highlights the prolonged nature of the issue, suggesting it has been ongoing for some time.

enduring task

Focuses on the long-lasting nature of the task, implying it requires sustained effort.

continuous endeavor

Highlights the sustained effort required and the continuous nature of the undertaking.

perpetual trial

Emphasizes the never-ending and testing nature of the challenge.

chronic complication

Suggests a recurring and persistent difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I use "ongoing challenge" in a sentence?

Use "ongoing challenge" to describe a problem or task that continues to persist and requires sustained effort. For example, "Maintaining customer satisfaction is an "ongoing challenge" for many businesses".

What are some alternatives to "ongoing challenge"?

You can use alternatives like "continuing obstacle", "persistent difficulty", or "unresolved issue" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "ongoing challenge" and "current challenge"?

While both refer to present difficulties, "ongoing challenge" emphasizes the continuous and unresolved nature of the problem, whereas "current challenge" simply highlights its present existence.

What makes "ongoing challenge" different from "one-time challenge"?

"Ongoing challenge" implies a continuous effort and the lack of a simple solution, unlike a "one-time challenge" which is typically a single, isolated event or task.