struggling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a person or entity that is having difficulty with a task or situation. Example: "She has been struggling to keep up with her studies since the semester began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Opinion

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All the money raised at Tuesday's game will go to charity, from Marie Curie to local community projects "struggling without the funds".

The Guardian - Sport

The manager was fired in February with his team struggling in eighth, yet he did get some things right.

The Guardian - Sport

In the video, Luna can be seen struggling with police as they pull her out of the school and bundle her into the back seat of a vehicle.

The Guardian

"The thing that makes Trotty so special, as everyone knows, is that he is very driven by scoring runs – and that's the thing that he maybe lost a little bit when he was struggling at the start of the summer.

The Guardian - Sport

The cost is only £5, £10 or £15 and "some of our fans have abused it, so we're struggling", he says.

The Guardian - Sport

Nick Hopkinson of Property Portfolio Rescue, which buys houses from distressed buy-to-let borrowers, describes the Nationwide's reported increase as a "statistical blip" which would "not fool anybody who is struggling to sell their home or obtain realistic mortgage finance in the real world".

The Guardian - Business

"I'm struggling to find a decent stats site, any variation of googling throws up gambling sites, which I need to steer clear of... ...... Eberhard Spohd has the following for what happens if every match finishes 0-0.

The Guardian - Sport

Sure, I abhor everything Ukip stand for: they're a millionaire-funded party advocating privatisation and tax cuts for a thriving wealthy elite, encouraging struggling Britons to direct their fire at immigrants rather than financiers, poverty-paying employers or tax avoiders.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the London Assembly too, the so-called "progressive coalition" has also done most of the running, with many Conservative members still struggling to find a voice.

The Guardian - Opinion

The minister who condemned historic indulgence of sink schools was in effect proposing to deny struggling pupils the chance to earn any respected qualifications at all.

The Guardian

The UK's biggest, but struggling, retailer has so far chosen to focus on rather marginal activities to bring back its customers – new bakeries, Giraffe restaurants, Hudl computers.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "grappling", "contending", or "having difficulty" to add nuance and avoid repetition in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "struggling" without specifying the area of difficulty. For example, instead of saying "The company is struggling", specify "The company is struggling with declining sales" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "struggling" is that of a present participle, often functioning as part of a continuous verb tense or as an adjective. Ludwig provides examples of "struggling" being used in various contexts to describe ongoing difficulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Sport

14%

Business

12%

Less common in

Opinion

8%

Lifestyle

4%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggling" is a commonly used verb that accurately describes a state of difficulty or effort. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and demonstrates its diverse usage across contexts such as news, sports, and business. When using "struggling", ensure clarity by specifying the source of difficulty and consider synonyms for nuanced writing. Its frequent appearance in reputable sources like The Guardian underscores its reliability and versatility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having difficulty

Focuses on the presence of difficulty, a more general term than "struggling".

facing challenges

Emphasizes the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome.

grappling with

Suggests a close and difficult engagement with a problem.

contending with

Highlights active opposition or competition with something.

finding it hard to

A more descriptive and less direct way of expressing difficulty.

in a difficult situation

Shifts the focus to the overall situation rather than the act of struggling.

undergoing hardship

Implies a state of suffering or deprivation.

encountering obstacles

Focuses on the presence of impediments.

battling against

Emphasizes a fight or conflict against something.

laboring

Suggests strenuous and prolonged effort.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone is "struggling"?

Saying someone is "struggling" means they are having difficulty with something, facing challenges, or finding it hard to achieve a goal. It implies effort and potential hardship.

How can I use "struggling" in a sentence?

You can use "struggling" to describe someone's difficulty with a task or situation, such as, "He is struggling to keep up with his studies" or "The business is struggling to stay afloat".

What can I say instead of "struggling"?

You can use alternatives like "having difficulty", "facing challenges", or "grappling with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "struggling with" or "struggling against"?

Both "struggling with" and "struggling against" are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Struggling with" implies difficulty handling something, while "struggling against" suggests active opposition.