she has difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she has difficulty" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone has difficulty doing something, either because the task is hard to do or because the person is not very skilled at it. For example: "She has difficulty understanding complicated math problems, so she needs to spend more time studying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

She has difficulty digesting food orally.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now 83, she has difficulty walking and hearing.

The New York Times

She has difficulty distinguishing the weeds from the flowers.

The New Yorker

At the inn, she has difficulty keeping herself occupied.

The New Yorker

Ms. McMillan finds traveling difficult because she has difficulty walking.

The New York Times

She has difficulty following conversations, but is fed up of being "treated like an idiot".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

"When she has difficulties you think, is it because of something that has happened in her past?

BBC

She had difficulty breathing.

The New York Times

A human resources consultant, she had difficulty finding work.

The New York Times

She had difficulty making friends and was an unattractive child.

The New Yorker

On a bad day she had difficulty walking upstairs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific challenge, follow "she has difficulty" with a gerund (verb + -ing) to clearly indicate the action causing the difficulty; for example, "she has difficulty understanding abstract concepts".

Common error

Avoid using "she has difficulty" without specifying the context or the action that causes the difficulty. Be specific about what is challenging for her; instead of saying "she has difficulty", say "she has difficulty with complex calculations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she has difficulty" functions as a descriptor, indicating that the subject experiences challenges or problems in performing a specific action or task. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used expression. Examples provided by Ludwig show its versatility in describing a wide range of difficulties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she has difficulty" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe a person's challenges or struggles in performing a specific task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a standard expression suitable for various contexts, though its frequency leans towards news and media. Alternatives like "she struggles with" or "she finds it hard to" can offer slight nuances in meaning. When using the phrase, it's best practice to clearly specify the action or context causing the difficulty to avoid vagueness. Despite its common usage, generalising the difficulty without specific context should be avoided to maintain clarity. Therefore, consider the setting and specific challenge when deploying the phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's difficult for her to

Shifts the emphasis to the difficulty itself, rather than the person experiencing it.

she struggles with

Replaces "has difficulty" with "struggles with", suggesting a more active and ongoing effort to overcome the difficulty.

she finds it hard to

Uses a more descriptive phrasing, focusing on the perceived hardness or challenge of the task.

she has a hard time

Similar to "finds it hard", but uses "hard time" to emphasize the negative experience.

she is challenged by

More formal and emphasizes the difficulty as a challenge to be overcome.

she experiences problems with

Highlights that there are problems instead of difficulties.

she is not good at

Focuses on a lack of skill or aptitude rather than the difficulty of the task itself.

she can't manage to

Highlights the inability to successfully complete the task.

she is unable to

A more formal and direct statement of inability.

she lacks the capacity to

Focuses on an inherent lack of ability or potential.

FAQs

How can I use "she has difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "she has difficulty" to indicate that a female person experiences problems or challenges when doing something. For instance, "She has difficulty speaking clearly after her accident".

What are some alternatives to saying "she has difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "she struggles with", "she finds it hard to", or "it's difficult for her to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "she is having difficulty" instead of "she has difficulty"?

Yes, "she is having difficulty" is also grammatically correct. Both phrases are acceptable and convey a similar meaning, although "she has difficulty" is slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "she has difficulty" and "she is disabled"?

"She has difficulty" describes a specific challenge or problem, while "she is disabled" refers to a more general condition that limits her abilities. The first is specific and relates to the verb that follows and the second is a more general, condition statement.