root of the difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "root of the difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the fundamental cause or source of a problem or challenge. Example: "After much discussion, we finally identified the root of the difficulty in our project, which was a lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I sometimes imagine that the world map is the root of the difficulty in placing Africa.

The Guardian

Semantics was at the root of the difficulty; Greek and Roman understandings of the same terms differed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such situations have the potential to produce different ethical conflicts in the individual, and these conflicts will reflect the root of the difficulty in making the right decision.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The use of the biomedical discourse at discharge seems to lie at the root of the difficulties of communicating psychosocial aspects between the subsystem of the hospital physicians and that of the GPs.

BMC Health Services Research

The root of this difficulty lies in the duality of human faculties: "Sometimes ideas and feelings are in agreement with each other and an object merits the qualification 'beautiful' on both counts.

SEP

Towns says he's sceptical that sticky pedals and floor mats are the root cause of the difficulty.

The Guardian - Business

The widespread distribution of sub-micron and nanoscale pores is the root cause of the difficulty of developing such gas reservoirs.

Petroleum Science

Existing and newly developed parameter identifiability methods were applied to two power-law models of biochemical systems, and the results pointed to the lack of parametric identifiability as the root cause of the difficulty faced in the inverse modeling.

Journal of Biotechnology

The lack of complete parameter identifiability has been blamed as the root cause of the difficulty in such estimation.

BMC Systems Biology

The government's financial difficulties were once more at the root of the trouble.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, the senior Republican on the Committee on Governmental Affairs, said, "The fact that the federal government does not adequately hire and retain the right people is a root cause" of the difficulties at many agencies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "root of the difficulty", ensure that you clearly identify what specific problem or challenge you are referring to in the surrounding context. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "root of the difficulty" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for significant, foundational issues that have far-reaching consequences. This maintains the phrase's impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "root of the difficulty" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. It identifies the fundamental cause or origin of a problem. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "root of the difficulty" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for identifying the fundamental cause of a problem. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and acceptable in written English. While not overly common, it appears in reputable sources such as news outlets, encyclopedias and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly define the specific issue to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "source of the difficulty" or "cause of the difficulty" offer similar meanings. Remember that "root of the difficulty" is best reserved for significant issues rather than minor inconveniences, to preserve its impact and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

source of the difficulty

This alternative directly replaces "root" with "source", maintaining a near-identical meaning.

cause of the difficulty

This alternative replaces "root" with "cause", emphasizing the reason for the difficulty.

origin of the difficulty

This alternative focuses on the point where the difficulty began or arose.

basis of the difficulty

This alternative shifts the focus to the foundation or groundwork upon which the difficulty rests.

underlying reason for the difficulty

This alternative highlights the reason that may not be immediately obvious.

primary driver of the difficulty

This alternative emphasizes the main factor propelling or causing the difficulty.

fundamental issue causing the difficulty

This alternative stresses that it's not just a normal issue, rather a fundamental one.

core reason for the problem

This alternative uses 'problem' instead of 'difficulty' and 'core' instead of 'root'.

heart of the difficulty

This alternative uses a metaphor to suggest the central or most important aspect of the difficulty.

nub of the difficulty

This alternative, using "nub", suggests the central point or core of the difficulty.

FAQs

What does "root of the difficulty" mean?

The phrase "root of the difficulty" refers to the fundamental cause or underlying reason for a particular problem or challenge.

How can I use "root of the difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain the core cause of an issue, such as: "Lack of communication was the "root of the difficulty" in the project."

What are some alternatives to saying "root of the difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "source of the difficulty", "cause of the difficulty", or "origin of the difficulty", which can be used depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "root of the difficulty" and "symptom of the difficulty"?

"Root of the difficulty" refers to the underlying cause, while "symptom of the difficulty" refers to a visible sign or consequence of that underlying cause. Addressing the root cause is essential for solving the problem.