run into constraints

USAGE SUMMARY

'run into constraints' is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
It means to encounter or come across limitations or restrictions that hinder progress or action. Example: During the planning process, we realized we would likely run into constraints due to budget limitations and time constraints.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But America finds itself struggling to attain a rapid recovery because policy has run into constraints that pop up again and again in the historical record.

The Economist

"We're going to run into constraints in terms of space availability, water availability — particularly fresh water — and also environmental impacts and supply of feed," Mr. Cochrane said.

The New York Times - Science

Did you run into constraints on the Glass platform?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As loans became costlier to obtain from informal credit markets and tube well irrigation led to unsustainable and costly groundwater exploitation, the agricultural growth process ran into constraints.

The New York Times

Of course, technological possibilities can run into budget constraints.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr Bernanke mentions and dismisses arguments that this would violate legal restrictions or run into political constraints.

The Economist

Inflation has been creeping up in the US, and there is a risk that the economy will run into capacity constraints once the tax cuts and spending increases kick in.

The Guardian - Business

For several years, investors have been reassuring themselves that the domestic and global economy would grow fast enough to generate rapid growth in corporate earnings, but not fast enough to run into capacity constraints and generate inflation.

The New Yorker

What this means is that if and when a real recovery finally gets going, the economy will run into capacity constraints and production bottlenecks much sooner than it should.

The New York Times

The problem with this is that eventually the economy will run into a constraint, it will simply run out of additional workers to employ and, without an increase in productivity, output growth will hit a wall.

BBC

Streaming a feature-length 4K file over the internet would run into similar bandwidth constraints.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "run into constraints", clearly specify the nature of the constraints to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "We ran into constraints", specify "We ran into budget constraints" or "We ran into technical constraints".

Common error

While "run into constraints" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or sophisticated language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "encountered limitations" or "faced restrictions" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "run into constraints" functions as a verb phrase, describing the act of encountering limitations that hinder progress or action. Ludwig AI validates its common usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "run into constraints" is a versatile phrase used to express the encounter of limitations hindering progress, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Grammatically correct and prevalent in various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business communications, it effectively communicates the challenges posed by specific restrictions. While acceptable in neutral and professional registers, highly formal contexts may benefit from more precise alternatives like "encountered limitations". To maximize clarity, explicitly state the specific type of constraint encountered, and, to prevent overuse in overly formal environments, consider replacing it with more elegant synonyms. Finally, this expression is very useful in general English, and is something one should have in their vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter limitations

Focuses on the act of encountering limitations, omitting the sense of collision implied by "run into".

face restrictions

Highlights the act of confronting restrictions, suggesting a more direct and possibly anticipated confrontation.

meet obstacles

Emphasizes the act of meeting obstacles, removing the element of unexpected encounter.

experience limitations

Focuses on the subjective experience of limitations, emphasizing the impact rather than the encounter.

confront limitations

Implies a deliberate and often challenging interaction with limitations.

hit a roadblock

Uses a more metaphorical term, "roadblock", to indicate an obstruction to progress.

reach a limit

Indicates arriving at a boundary or maximum capacity.

be hampered by restrictions

Shifts the focus to being hindered by existing restrictions, rather than encountering them directly.

find oneself limited

Emphasizes the state of being restricted, often unexpectedly.

be subject to limitations

Highlights the condition of being governed or controlled by limitations.

FAQs

How can I use "run into constraints" in a sentence?

You can use "run into constraints" to describe encountering limitations or restrictions that impede progress. For example: "The project ran into constraints due to a lack of funding."

What are some alternatives to "run into constraints"?

Alternatives include "encounter limitations", "face restrictions", or "meet obstacles", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "run into constraints" a formal or informal expression?

"Run into constraints" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both professional and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, more precise alternatives like "encountered limitations" might be preferable.

What type of constraints are commonly associated with "run into constraints"?

Common types of constraints include budget constraints, time constraints, resource constraints, and technical constraints. The specific type of constraint depends on the context in which the phrase is used.