recurring obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

"recurring obstacle" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a problem or challenge that repeatedly arises in a situation. For example, "The team faced a recurring obstacle in meeting their deadlines." Alternative expressions include "persistent barrier" and "repeated challenge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A recurring obstacle is how ignorant mainstream society is of the lives of recent migrants.

The Guardian - Opinion

Upset by my bemusement, a distinguished Oxford philosopher kindly began a correspondence with me in the hope of removing this recurring obstacle to my comprehension.

Independent

A recurring obstacle to the negotiations was Croatia's ICTY co-operation record and Slovenian blocking of the negotiations because of Croatia Slovenia border disputes.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In our conversations with business leaders we have heard two recurring obstacles: a culture of short-termism and the fact that corporate law puts shareholders first.

Harvard Business Review

ZBX claims that it will be the first fully regulated exchange to solve the recurring obstacles that are faced by buyers and sellers of OTC crypto.

Forbes

He blows through obstacles like unbalanced binary search trees, recursive node applications, and recurring robot obstacles--phrases from an arcane language he's been studying so long it's as if he's a native speaker.

Duke University

McCarthy et al. (17) also highlighted obstacles similar to those we identified, further affirming the recurring themes of obstacles in service learning: cultural differences inducing scepticism among locals, communication issues, conflicting objectives among sponsors, the team and the hosts, and to a lesser extent in our study, expectations of the hosts.

Global Health Action

This reluctance to discuss medical errors, and what can be done to prevent them from recurring, is a major obstacle to improving patient care.

The New York Times

Mitigation of these obstacles may include more intensive and recurring discussion of contraceptive technologies to improve participant knowledge and acceptance.

Plosone

In addition, subsidence causes persistent and recurring damage to buildings and infrastructure, and is a major obstacle to urban and infrastructure planning and development in the region.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Israel's settlement activities are hardly the only obstacle to those goals, but they are important, because the recurring spectacle of new Israeli buildings is corrosive to Palestinian confidence in a negotiated settlement.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "recurring obstacle", clearly define the specific obstacle and its impact. This helps the reader understand the significance of its repeated occurrence.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is a "recurring obstacle". Instead, explain why it recurs and what consequences it has. Provide specific examples or data to support your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recurring obstacle" functions as a noun phrase, where 'recurring' modifies 'obstacle'. It typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence, indicating a problem that repeatedly hinders progress. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "recurring obstacle" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a problem that appears repeatedly. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While relatively rare, it is found in various contexts, including news, wikis, and scientific literature. Alternatives like "persistent hurdle" or "frequent impediment" can be used for variety. When using this phrase, providing context about the nature and impact of the obstacle is crucial for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recurring difficulty

Replaces "obstacle" with a more general term for a problem.

persistent hurdle

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the obstacle and its function as a barrier.

frequent impediment

Highlights the repeated occurrence of something that hinders progress.

repeated setback

Focuses on the hindering nature of the problem and its impact on progress.

chronic difficulty

Suggests a long-lasting and ongoing challenge.

perennial challenge

Implies a challenge that occurs regularly and is expected.

habitual issue

Highlights the repetitive nature of the problem.

constant hindrance

Emphasizes that the obstacle is always present and impeding progress.

regular snag

A more informal way to describe a recurring problem.

cyclical impediment

Highlights the cyclical nature of the hindrance.

FAQs

How to use "recurring obstacle" in a sentence?

Use "recurring obstacle" to describe a problem or challenge that appears repeatedly. For example: "Lack of funding was a "recurring obstacle" for the project."

What can I say instead of "recurring obstacle"?

You can use alternatives like "persistent hurdle", "frequent impediment", or "repeated setback" depending on the context.

Is "recurring obstacle" formal or informal?

"Recurring obstacle" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but alternatives like "persistent hurdle" might be preferred in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "recurring obstacle" and "major obstacle"?

"Recurring obstacle" emphasizes the repeated appearance of the obstacle, while "major obstacle" highlights its significance or difficulty, regardless of whether it's recurring.