outstanding challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

"outstanding challenge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a difficult issue that needs to be addressed. For example, "Providing quality healthcare to everyone is an outstanding challenge that our society must confront."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Bongard problems present an outstanding challenge to artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence

The absolute neutrino mass scale is still an outstanding challenge in both particle physics and cosmology.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Until now, to remove the harmful organic dyes from effluents is an outstanding challenge.

Chinese Chemical Letters

Tracking cell-cycle progression in live cells within their endogenous environment has been an outstanding challenge.

Chemistry & Biology

Understanding how neuronal activity relates to animal behavior has been an outstanding challenge in systems neuroscience.

Nature

An outstanding challenge for astronomers is how to reliably estimate the fundamental properties of M dwarfs.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"FORCES Scientific Agenda: Summary of Progress Made and Outstanding Challenges".

University of California, Berkeley

Ten years of pathway analysis: current approaches and outstanding challenges.

Nature

We also highlight outstanding challenges and future directions to advance this field.

Current Opinion in Microbiology

Relevant examples of gene therapy studies for neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as outstanding challenges, are discussed.

Neuropharmacology

Despite the development of these powerful tools, several outstanding challenges need to be systematically addressed.

Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "outstanding challenge" with specific areas of focus to add context and make it more concrete (e.g., "an outstanding challenge in renewable energy").

Common error

Avoid using "outstanding challenge" as a generic filler. Always specify what makes the challenge outstanding to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding challenge" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "outstanding" modifies the noun "challenge". It's used to highlight a significant problem or task that needs to be addressed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding challenge" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for denoting a significant and complex problem. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is effective in various contexts, notably science, academia, and news media. While versatile, it's crucial to provide specific context to maintain clarity and impact, avoiding overuse as a generic filler. Alternative phrases include "major hurdle" and "significant obstacle", each carrying slightly different nuances. The consistent presence of the phrase in authoritative sources reinforces its legitimacy and usefulness in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major hurdle

Focuses more on the obstacle aspect, implying something that needs to be overcome.

significant obstacle

Highlights the importance and difficulty of the challenge.

key difficulty

Emphasizes that this is one of several important issues.

formidable task

Emphasizes the effort and skill required to address the challenge.

daunting problem

Highlights the intimidating nature of the challenge.

primary concern

Shifts the focus to the level of worry or attention the issue requires.

pressing issue

Highlights the urgency and need for immediate attention.

critical need

Highlights the necessity of addressing something.

unresolved issue

Focuses on the fact that it has not been solved or dealt with.

notable endeavor

Highlights the ambition and importance of undertaking the challenge.

FAQs

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

You can use "outstanding challenge" to refer to a significant problem that needs to be solved, as in, "Climate change is an "outstanding challenge" for humanity".

What are some alternatives to "outstanding challenge"?

Alternatives include "major hurdle", "significant obstacle", or "key difficulty". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "outstanding challenge" in formal writing?

Yes, "outstanding challenge" is suitable for formal writing in academic, scientific, and professional contexts. It clearly conveys a significant issue that requires attention.

What makes a challenge "outstanding"?

An "outstanding challenge" is notable because of its complexity, importance, and the effort required to address it. It typically requires innovative solutions and dedicated resources.