personal obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personal obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to challenges or difficulties that an individual faces in their personal life, which may affect their goals or well-being. Example: "Despite facing several personal obstacles, she managed to complete her degree with honors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Specifically, Oxbridge-educated scientists from the middle of the last century who made monumental breakthroughs despite enormous personal obstacles.

The Guardian - Film

Universities should still be free to take students' backgrounds into account: whether, for example, they come from a poor home, or have surmounted personal obstacles.

The Economist

To help improve social mobility in the legal profession, the scheme offers LPC scholarships to talented students who have overcome exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to train to qualify as a solicitor.

The Guardian

Tonight's victory represented a victory over personal obstacles, but it also represented the triumph of individualism by a free-spirited swimmer over the sometimes obsessive conformity in the sport.

The New York Times - Sports

The Olympics is all about the human spirit and its indomitable will to succeed in spite of the odds (i.e., personal obstacles they've had to overcome in order to be there and competing at that level).

The New York Times

None of the personal obstacles that I faced as a young man could compare to what the victims of apartheid experienced every day, and I could only imagine the courage that had led Mandela to occupy that prison cell for so many years.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

She cleared a personal obstacle in 1997, the 50th anniversary of her father's breakthrough in baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

It is a cultural predicament, an evolutionary challenge, more than it is a personal obstacle.

Huffington Post

With MCII, participants first identify a personal wish or goal (e.g., being physically fit), identify and imagine the most positive future outcomes of goal attainment (e.g., being healthier), and mentally contrast the most positive future outcome with the primary personal obstacle currently impeding their goal attainment (e.g., feeling too tired to exercise).

BMC Psychiatry

Bernd Wagner: First of all, many individual conversations are conducted to clarify a person's background, the level of threat to their safety, their personal goals, obstacles for the exit, etc.

Vice

But it proved to John he had the ability to overcome both personal and political obstacles," said a political friend.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "personal obstacles" to add a layer of understanding and empathy to narratives about success, struggle, or resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "personal obstacles" as a generic phrase without providing specific details. This can weaken the impact of your writing. Instead, illustrate the specific challenges faced to create a more compelling narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal obstacles" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition. It identifies specific challenges or difficulties that an individual encounters. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "personal obstacles" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe individual challenges or difficulties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal communication. When using this phrase, consider specifying the nature of the obstacles for greater impact. Alternatives such as "individual challenges" or "personal difficulties" can provide nuanced variations. Be mindful of overusing the phrase generically; detailed descriptions create more compelling narratives. The prevalence of authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian reinforces the phrase's credibility and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Individual challenges

Focuses on the difficulties as challenges rather than obstacles.

Personal difficulties

Emphasizes the hardship aspect of the obstacles.

Personal barriers

Highlights the restrictive nature of the obstacles.

Individual struggles

Emphasizes the effort required to overcome the obstacles.

Personal setbacks

Focuses on the hindering aspect of progress.

Private trials

Highlights the intimate and testing nature of the difficulties.

Personal hardships

Emphasizes the severe difficulties faced.

Adversities in life

Broader term referring to difficult life events.

Challenges in one's life

General term for difficulties faced in life.

Personal impediments

Highlights the hindering aspect of the difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "personal obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use "personal obstacles" to describe challenges someone faces in their life, for example, "Despite facing numerous "personal obstacles", she achieved her goals."

What are some alternatives to saying "personal obstacles"?

Alternatives include "individual challenges", "personal difficulties", or "personal barriers", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to be specific than to say "personal obstacles"?

While "personal obstacles" is acceptable, being specific about the nature of the challenges can provide more clarity and impact to your writing.

What's the difference between "personal obstacles" and "professional obstacles"?

"Personal obstacles" refer to challenges in someone's private life, while "professional obstacles" refer to difficulties encountered in a work or career setting. Overcoming "personal obstacles" might influence one's career, and vice-versa.