owing to a difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "owing to a difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain the reason for a situation or action that arises due to a challenge or obstacle. Example: "The meeting was postponed owing to a difficulty in scheduling a suitable time for all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, it has been reported that repeat contents in Illumina-sequenced genomes are likely to be underestimated owing to a difficulty with the assembly of short repetitive reads into long repeat regions [ 21].

BMC Genomics

Studying the genomes of fastidious bacteria that cannot be cultured outside of their eukaryotic host cells often presents practical problems owing to a difficulty in sequencing a genome that might be a small minority of the total DNA in a host.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The campaign then slowed owing to a combination of logistical difficulties and Japanese resistance.

Wikipedia

However, owing to a delay occasioned by the difficulty in selecting a neutral third commissioner, Clifford never assumed his duties.

Wikipedia

But almost immediately Trump ran into difficulties, owing to a series of tactical miscues.

Los Angeles Times

Study participants reported difficulties owing to a wet and cold environment during wild bird collection, and almost half the participants collected potentially infected birds that were still alive which resulted in a high risk of exposure.

BMC Infectious Diseases

However, owing to the difficulty animating a realistic moving vehicle, the artists filmed the carriage maquettes on a miniature set using stop motion animation.

Wikipedia

Regardless, authentic performances are rare, owing to the difficulty of securing a bullfrog who can transpose to E-flat.

The New Yorker

The data generated for this paper is not provided owing to the difficulty of representing a collection of matrices indexed by glacier size class and year in a simple CSV file in a way that is easily readable, but the data is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Nature

However, there are some difficulties in microfluidics in supporting the high density of parallel operations owing to the difficulty in supplying a uniform force to drive liquids [ 11], avoiding losses from surface adsorption, and other operations [ 12, 13].

BMC Biotechnology

In China, 65.9% migrant workers were men and 14.3% migrant workers were aged 50 years or older, a segment of the rural population who would be most likely to return to their rural areas owing to their difficulty to adapt to an urban lifestyle.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "owing to a difficulty" when you want to express a causal relationship, indicating that something happened as a direct result of a specific challenge or problem. Ensure the sentence clearly links the difficulty to its consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "owing to a difficulty" in very informal contexts. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "because of a problem" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owing to a difficulty" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by providing a reason or explanation. It indicates the cause or reason behind a particular situation or action, similar to phrases like 'because of' or 'due to'. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "owing to a difficulty" serves as a causal connector, explaining that something has occurred because of a challenge or obstacle. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. Although versatile across various contexts, it is relatively formal and appears most frequently in scientific and news-related content. Less common in informal or social media contexts, it can be replaced by simpler alternatives such as "due to a problem" or "because of a challenge" to adjust the tone. Ensure you use it when the connection between the challenge and the consequence is clearly established.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Due to a problem

Replaces "owing to" with "due to", and "difficulty" with "problem" for a slightly more informal tone.

Because of a challenge

Substitutes "owing to" with "because of" and "difficulty" with "challenge", suggesting a less negative connotation.

Caused by an obstacle

Uses simpler language by replacing "owing to a difficulty" with "caused by an obstacle", directly stating the reason.

As a result of a setback

Replaces the initial phrase with "as a result of" and "difficulty" with "setback", indicating a hindrance or obstacle.

On account of a complication

Uses "on account of" instead of "owing to" and "complication" for "difficulty", presenting a more formal alternative.

Attributable to an issue

Replaces "owing to a difficulty" with "attributable to an issue", suggesting the cause is linked to a specific problem.

Stemming from a hurdle

Replaces the original phrase with "stemming from a hurdle", indicating the origin of the problem is a barrier.

Arising from an impediment

Substitutes "owing to" with "arising from" and "difficulty" with "impediment", conveying a sense of obstruction.

Resulting from a snag

Uses "resulting from" in place of "owing to" and "snag" for "difficulty", suggesting a minor unexpected problem.

Consequent to a hitch

Replaces "owing to" with "consequent to" and "difficulty" with "hitch", implying a temporary malfunction.

FAQs

How can I use "owing to a difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "owing to a difficulty" to explain why something is happening or has happened. For example, "The project was delayed "owing to a difficulty" in obtaining necessary resources."

What are some alternatives to "owing to a difficulty"?

You can use alternatives such as "due to a problem", "because of a challenge", or "as a result of a setback" depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is "owing to a difficulty" formal or informal?

"Owing to a difficulty" leans towards the more formal side. In casual conversation, consider using phrases like "because of a problem" or "due to a problem".

What's the difference between "owing to a difficulty" and "due to a difficulty"?

Both phrases are similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. However, ""owing to a difficulty"" is generally considered slightly more formal than "due to a difficulty".