struggle to do something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggle to do something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing difficulty or effort in attempting to accomplish a task or goal. Example: "Many students struggle to do something as simple as managing their time effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We have to struggle, to do something to improve the situation".

The New York Times

Prof Richard Mitchell, of the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health at the University of Glasgow, said: "Governments and health services around the world struggle to do something about the health gap between richer and poorer people, so this new evidence that being a Scout or Guide can help is very important".

The Guardian

Vidya was drawn to the idea of playing a female detective, and identified with the character's struggle to "do something unusual" in life.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Gail: The moral I took out of it was that you had all these people struggling to do something constructive, while the bottom line was always that the House right wing was always going to torpedo anything that came of it.

The New York Times

It's like spending time with Hayao Miyazaki and getting to know him and hanging out in his home and his studio as he struggles to do something he has never done before," Eric Beckman, CEO of GKIDS, added.

Vice

"It's very courageous for a young struggling gallery to do something like this when MOMA is such a monolith in the market".

The New Yorker

I think when you're struggling, the solution is to do something for somebody else.

The New York Times

General Manager Steve Phillips said: "I think Mike wants to win and I think when we've had such significant team struggles, he may try to do something or feels compelled to do more.

The New York Times - Sports

The difference, however, is that now when a kid struggles to learn how to do something, their parents record a video of it on their smartphones and upload it to YouTube, where it will live forever and ever.

Huffington Post

Seeing his mother struggle, Alvin, now 22, wanted to do something.

The New York Times

More often than not, women don't have a problem with this, but guys struggle with not knowing how to do something.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggle to do something", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific difficulty or obstacle encountered. Be specific about what is causing the struggle.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about struggling without specifying the action or the reason for the difficulty. For example, instead of saying "They struggle," clarify with "They "struggle to do something" as basic as reading a map."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to do something" functions as a verbal phrase indicating difficulty or effort in performing an action. Ludwig provides examples where it describes people or entities facing challenges. It conveys that an action is not easily accomplished.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggle to do something" is a commonly used verbal phrase that effectively conveys difficulty or effort in performing an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, specificity in the context is key to avoid vagueness. Alternative phrases, such as "find it hard to do something", can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Ultimately, "struggle to do something" serves as a useful tool for expressing challenges faced when attempting something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find it hard to do something

Focuses on the difficulty experienced, rather than the active struggle.

have difficulty doing something

Highlights the presence of obstacles or problems during the action.

have a hard time doing something

Emphasizes the unpleasantness and challenge of the task.

find it challenging to do something

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the activity.

labor to do something

Suggests intense effort and hard work is required.

strive to do something

Implies a determined effort despite the difficulties.

strain to do something

Highlights the exertion and potential for overreach.

wrestle with doing something

Suggests a more internal or conceptual struggle.

grapple with doing something

Implies a close, hands-on confrontation with the task.

contend with doing something

Highlights the need to manage or overcome challenges to succeed.

FAQs

How can I use "struggle to do something" in a sentence?

You can use "struggle to do something" to describe difficulties in performing an action. For example, "Many students "struggle to do something" as simple as managing their time effectively".

What are some alternatives to "struggle to do something"?

Alternatives include "find it hard to do something", "have difficulty doing something", or "have a hard time doing something" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "struggle to do something" or "struggling to do something"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Struggle to do something" refers to a general difficulty, while "struggling to do something" describes an ongoing effort.

What's the difference between "struggle to do something" and "try to do something"?

"Try to do something" indicates an attempt, while "struggle to do something" implies difficulty and effort are involved. You might try to do something easily, but you "struggle to do something" when it's hard.