struggling lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggling lately" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe recent difficulties or challenges someone has faced. Example: "She has been struggling lately with her workload." Alternative expressions include "having a hard time recently" and "facing challenges lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Both companies have been struggling lately.

The New York Times

The local office market has been struggling lately.

The Washington Post

After qualifying for nationals very early in the season, Deering had been struggling lately.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Lucas has really been struggling lately, we're aware of that," Manager Terry Collins.

The New York Times

"I've actually been struggling lately, but I never complain," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

You've got a base open, and you've got Robbie, who can definitely hurt you, and I've been struggling lately.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Anyone of a certain age who has struggled lately to watch late-night TV knows that to succeed you have to get through the midnight dead zone, when there's often a six-minute commercial break that feels like eternity.

The New York Times

Both companies have struggled lately.

The New York Times

Digital news organizations have also struggled lately.

The New York Times

The Yankees' relievers have struggled lately, but not Rivera.

The New York Times - Sports

Their offense has struggled lately, and Tuesday was no different.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggling lately", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is struggling with. Providing specific details enhances clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "struggling lately" without specifying the area of difficulty. For example, instead of saying "The company has been struggling lately", specify: "The company has been struggling lately with sales figures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggling lately" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the state or condition of a subject in relation to recent difficulties. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying entities ranging from companies to individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struggling lately" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe recent difficulties or challenges. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to convey information about a decline or hardship. While interchangeable with phrases like "facing recent difficulties" or "having a hard time recently", it's crucial to provide specific context to enhance clarity. Common errors involve omitting the specific area of difficulty. Overall, "struggling lately" is a versatile phrase suitable for neutral to professional communication when used with clear and specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facing recent difficulties

Focuses on the difficulties being faced in the recent past.

having a hard time recently

Emphasizes the hardship experienced in the recent past.

experiencing challenges lately

Highlights the challenges encountered in the recent past.

undergoing a rough patch

Suggests a temporary period of difficulty.

not doing so well recently

A more informal way of expressing recent struggles.

having a difficult time of late

A slightly more formal alternative using "of late".

encountering obstacles recently

Focuses on the obstacles faced in the recent past.

in a slump recently

Implies a decline in performance or success.

having setbacks recently

Highlights the setbacks experienced in the recent past.

faring poorly of late

A more formal and less common way of saying not doing well.

FAQs

What does "struggling lately" mean?

The phrase "struggling lately" means experiencing difficulties or challenges in the recent past. It implies that someone or something has not been performing well or facing problems in a specific area.

How can I use "struggling lately" in a sentence?

You can use "struggling lately" to describe someone or something facing recent challenges. For example: "The team has been struggling lately to win games", or "The economy has been "facing recent difficulties"".

Which is more appropriate, "struggling lately" or "struggling recently"?

"Struggling lately" and "struggling recently" are interchangeable and equally appropriate. Both indicate that the struggles have occurred in the near past. The choice depends on personal preference.

What can I say instead of "struggling lately"?

You can use alternatives like ""facing recent difficulties"", "having a hard time recently", or "experiencing challenges lately depending on the context.