showing difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "showing difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or a person's experience of facing challenges or obstacles. Example: "The student was showing difficulty in understanding the complex math concepts presented in class."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He manifested flexion hip contracture on the right side, showing difficulty in extending the right hip due to the severe pain.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

A solution to the presence of DIF by diagnosis is the removal of items showing difficulty variations.

BMJ Open

In other words, if rater A coded a response showing difficulty for the area measurement of outcome, we checked whether rater B also coded the response as "difficulty" or "correct" under measurement of outcome.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Physical warning signs of child sexual abuse include: Showing difficulty with walking, sitting, and standing.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The fact that adults are showing difficulty-related decreases in activation in these presumptive mouth somatosensory areas is reminiscent of the finding of Dhanjal et al. (2008) who showed activation suppression in this same region for propositional speech relative to jaw and tongue movement.

Cerebral Cortex

G.M. continued to show difficulty making money in its core business, making cars and trucks.

The New York Times

Report cards, letters from baby sitters and child care centers to show difficulty at recess when children are little.

The New York Times

The Impact defense (and team as a whole) has shown difficulty to defend crosses whether it was against the Columbus Crew or the Chicago Fire.

The Guardian - Sport

Learners show difficulty in problem posing even if they can easily solve the problems.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

The pre-service teachers showed difficulty in considering themselves as 'authentic' mathematics teachers.

Teaching and Teacher Education

However, in previous researches [1,17,19], it shows difficulty to prevent the nanowires from agglomeration after a wet etching process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific action or task, follow "showing difficulty" with a gerund (verb + -ing) to clearly indicate what is causing the problem. For example, "showing difficulty breathing".

Common error

Avoid using "showing difficulty" when a simpler, more direct verb like "struggling" or "failing" would be more appropriate. "Showing difficulty" is best when highlighting the observation of someone experiencing a problem, not the problem itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "showing difficulty" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used to describe an observable behavior or condition indicating a struggle or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable, exemplified in sentences where someone "shows difficulty" in performing a physical action or understanding a concept.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "showing difficulty" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the outward signs of a struggle or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, its usage spans various contexts, including scientific, news, and general writing. It's most effectively used to describe observable behaviors, and it can be replaced with alternatives like "exhibiting trouble" or "demonstrating struggle" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to follow it with a gerund to clearly indicate the cause of the difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhibiting trouble

This alternative focuses on the outward display of experiencing problems, similar to "showing difficulty" but with a slightly broader scope.

demonstrating struggle

This phrase emphasizes the effort and resistance involved, highlighting the active process of trying to overcome a challenge.

encountering obstacles

This alternative shifts the focus to the presence of external impediments causing the difficulty.

facing challenges

Similar to encountering obstacles, this phrase underscores the act of confronting difficult situations.

having a hard time

This is a more informal and general way of expressing difficulty, suitable for everyday conversation.

experiencing hardship

This alternative suggests a more severe or prolonged period of difficulty and adversity.

finding it hard

This option describes the subjective experience of perceiving something as challenging.

laboring under

This phrase implies being burdened or weighed down by a task or situation causing difficulty.

grappling with

This option suggests actively struggling to understand or overcome a complex issue.

contending with

This phrase indicates facing and dealing with a difficult or competitive situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "showing difficulty" in a formal context?

In formal settings, consider using phrases like "exhibiting trouble", "demonstrating struggle", or "encountering obstacles" to maintain a professional tone.

What are some common situations where someone might "show difficulty"?

People might "show difficulty" with physical tasks like walking or sitting, cognitive tasks like understanding complex concepts, or emotional tasks like adjusting to new situations.

Is it better to say "showing difficulty with" or "showing difficulty in"?

Both "showing difficulty with" and "showing difficulty in" are grammatically correct, but "showing difficulty with" is generally more common and sounds more natural. For example, "showing difficulty with a task".

What's the difference between "showing difficulty" and "having difficulty"?

While both phrases indicate a challenge, "showing difficulty" emphasizes the outward manifestation of the struggle, while "having difficulty" focuses more on the internal experience. You show difficulty to others, but have difficulty yourself.