struggle to help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggle to help" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone is making an effort to assist or support someone else, often despite difficulties. Example: "Despite the challenges they faced, the volunteers continued to struggle to help the community rebuild after the disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

And exhausted, overburdened parents struggle to help with homework.

The New York Times

ODDLY NORMAL: One Family's Struggle to Help Their Teenage Son Come to Terms With His Sexuality.

The New York Times - Books

Gross tells of her struggle to help her infirm mother, and offers practical advice on eldercare.

The New York Times - Books

Five teenage misfits struggle to help Oleander, or at least save themselves.

The New York Times - Books

New York|Sharing His Struggle to Help Others Escape the Stigma of H.I.V.

The New York Times

Transplant centers say they struggle to help patients whose prescriptions were denied by insurers.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

At 54, Elizabeth McNulty also struggles to help three grown children.

The New York Times

What about social workers struggling to help abused children?

The New York Times

Sheridan, meanwhile, is struggling to help Charlie without his therapy.

The Guardian - Money

Tom has been struggling to help Jack improve his performance.

Harvard Business Review

In Serbia, the government struggled to help 70,000 residents cut off by the snow.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "struggle to help" to convey both the act of assisting and the difficulty involved in doing so. It's effective when you want to emphasize the challenges faced while providing support.

Common error

Avoid using "struggle to help" if the act of helping isn't genuinely challenging. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic. If the assistance is straightforward, opt for simpler phrases like "try to help" or "assist".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to help" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to describe a situation where someone is making a considerable effort to provide assistance, despite facing difficulties. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

28%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggle to help" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys both the act of assisting and the challenges encountered in doing so. As Ludwig confirms, it is versatile and appropriate for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, business, and academic writing. When using the phrase, ensure that the act of helping genuinely involves difficulty to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "endeavor to assist" or "strive to aid" to suit different nuances. Its prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to assist

Emphasizes a determined attempt, potentially more formal.

strive to aid

Highlights persistent effort with a goal of providing assistance.

make an effort to support

Focuses on the exertion of energy to give support.

try to assist

Implies a less intense effort compared to "struggle".

work towards assisting

Suggests continuous and ongoing efforts in providing assistance.

labor to support

Implies arduous work to provide assistance or support.

find it hard to assist

Highlights the difficulty in assisting without focusing on the effort.

have difficulty assisting

Focuses on the challenges faced when helping.

be challenged to assist

Highlights that there are difficulties and that it's not easy to assist.

wrestle with assisting

Suggests an internal conflict or difficulty while trying to assist.

FAQs

How can I use "struggle to help" in a sentence?

Use "struggle to help" when you want to emphasize the difficulty someone faces while trying to assist. For example, "The aid workers "struggle to help" the refugees despite the ongoing conflict".

What are some alternatives to "struggle to help"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "endeavor to assist", "strive to aid", or "make an effort to support".

Is it correct to say "struggling to help" instead of "struggle to help"?

Yes, "struggling to help" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the ongoing nature of the effort. "Struggle to help" generally describes a habitual or repeated action, whereas "struggling to help" indicates a present, continuous effort.

What is the difference between "try to help" and "struggle to help"?

"Try to help" implies a simple attempt, while "struggle to help" suggests a more significant effort against considerable obstacles. "Try to help" is a general term, but "struggle to help" emphasizes difficulty.