problems that surfaced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problems that surfaced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to issues or difficulties that have become apparent or have emerged over time. Example: "During the project, several problems that surfaced required immediate attention from the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"Unfortunately, many of the systemic problems that surfaced during [Ryder's] assessment are the very same issues that are the subject of this investigation," he wrote.

The New Yorker

Another question will be how quickly the Zimbabwean election authorities resolve the problems that surfaced today in accrediting the local observers, who number about 16,000.

The New York Times

Diocesan leaders assert that the finance committees are not intended to act as pastor police and may not have been able to prevent the kinds of problems that surfaced in the two parishes.

The New York Times

Upson did admit England had been working hard on the training ground attempting to iron out the problems that surfaced at the weekend, but said Capello had taken positives from the performance.

The Guardian - Sport

(Although, as Mr. Smith's letter to the attorney general today noted, the state continues to "maintain that the problems that surfaced in the 2000 election had no discriminatory impact").

The New York Times

Mr. Richardson had previously begun a re-examination of BNFL's work for the department because of problems that surfaced recently at the company's main operation, the Sellafield nuclear complex in England, where workers falsified documents on plutonium fuel production.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Reyes first had to recover from a hamstring injury that sidelined him after May 20 last season, and then had to deal with a thyroid problem that surfaced in spring training.

The New York Times - Sports

And Greene insists the Achilles tendon problem that surfaced ahead of the Championships did not lead to thoughts of not defending his title.

BBC

But this rosy rhetoric isn't surprising and threatens to mask a major problem that surfaced during the campaign: the growing cultural disconnect between tech innovators and the many Americans we serve.

TechCrunch

Or, the 9,179 small replacement gears called pinions the Army bought as a temporary fix for a Stryker suspension problem that surfaced between 2007 and 2009.

Huffington Post

Filtering surgery results may be compromised if blebs develop leaks, a problem that surfaces more frequently when antimetabolites are used to control the wound healing response.

Experimental Eye Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "problems that surfaced", ensure the context clearly indicates when and how these problems became apparent. For instance, specify the timeframe or event during which the problems emerged.

Common error

Avoid using "problems that surfaced" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your language by using synonyms like "issues that arose" or "difficulties that emerged" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problems that surfaced" functions as a noun phrase, where "problems" is the head noun and "that surfaced" acts as a relative clause modifying the noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "problems that surfaced" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe issues that have become apparent or have emerged over time. Ludwig AI indicates it is correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it is frequently found in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies when and how the problems became apparent, and avoid overuse by varying your language with synonyms such as ""issues that arose"" or ""difficulties that emerged"". Remember, it's about identifying and highlighting those difficulties requiring resolution or further investigation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

issues that emerged

Replaces "problems" with "issues" and "surfaced" with "emerged", providing a slightly more formal tone.

difficulties that arose

Substitutes "problems" with "difficulties" and "surfaced" with "arose", indicating a challenge that appeared.

challenges that presented themselves

Replaces "problems" with "challenges" and uses a more descriptive phrase instead of "surfaced", emphasizing the proactive nature of the difficulties.

complications that unfolded

Uses "complications" instead of "problems" and "unfolded" to suggest a gradual revelation of the issues.

matters that came to light

A more formal way of saying "problems that surfaced", focusing on the revealing of information.

snags that cropped up

More informal, using "snags" and "cropped up" to indicate minor issues that appeared unexpectedly.

obstacles that materialized

Suggests that the problems became real or concrete.

hitches that developed

Similar to "snags that cropped up", but slightly more formal.

setbacks that arose

Implies a temporary delay or impediment.

crises that erupted

Indicates a sudden and intense emergence of problems.

FAQs

How can I use "problems that surfaced" in a sentence?

You can use "problems that surfaced" to describe issues that became apparent or emerged over time. For example, "During the audit, several "problems that surfaced" required immediate attention."

What are some alternatives to "problems that surfaced"?

Alternatives include "issues that arose", "difficulties that emerged", or "challenges that presented themselves", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a more formal way to say "problems that surfaced"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "matters that came to light" or "complications that unfolded". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What is the difference between "problems that surfaced" and "problems that exist"?

"Problems that surfaced" refers to issues that have recently become apparent, while "problems that exist" refers to issues that are currently present, regardless of when they became known. The former implies a discovery, while the latter describes a current state.