struggling to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggling to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that is difficult or seems impossible to do. For example, "He was struggling to make ends meet on his teacher's salary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm struggling to score.

The New York Times

Struggling to think of one?

The New York Times

Science is struggling to cope.

The Economist

Because I'm struggling to think".

Independent

Consumers are struggling to cope.

The Economist

I'm struggling to do so.

The Economist

Wade is struggling to score.

The New York Times - Sports

Many are struggling to feed their families.

The Economist

But football is struggling to its feet.

The New York Times - Sports

Arts institutions are left struggling to adjust.

The New York Times - Books

Sabathia is struggling to find the plate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggling to", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is trying to achieve and the nature of the difficulty they are facing. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "struggling to" without specifying the area of difficulty. For instance, instead of saying "They are struggling", specify "They are struggling to adapt to the new system" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggling to" functions as a verb phrase indicating difficulty or challenge in performing a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggling to" is a very common verb phrase used to express difficulty in performing an action. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears frequently in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, as demonstrated by various examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist. When using "struggling to", ensure clarity by specifying the area of difficulty and consider alternatives such as "finding it hard to" or "having trouble with" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finding it hard to

Emphasizes the difficulty experienced when attempting something.

having trouble with

Focuses on the problems encountered during an activity.

having a difficult time with

Similar to 'having trouble with', but emphasizes a time aspect.

experiencing difficulty in

Highlights the challenges faced in a specific area.

contending with

Suggests a more active fight against obstacles.

grappling with

Implies a close and often difficult engagement with a problem.

facing challenges in

Underscores the existence of significant obstacles.

encountering obstacles to

Stresses the barriers that impede progress.

laboring to

Indicates intense effort and hard work.

endeavoring to no avail

Highlights an attempt that ultimately fails.

FAQs

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

You can use "struggling to" to describe difficulty in performing an action. For example: "He is struggling to understand the instructions" or "The company is struggling to stay afloat".

What are some alternatives to "struggling to"?

You can use alternatives like "finding it hard to", "having trouble with", or "experiencing difficulty in" depending on the context.

Which is more appropriate: "struggling to" or "struggling with"?

"Struggling to" is typically used before a verb (e.g., struggling to understand), while "struggling with" is used before a noun (e.g., struggling with anxiety).

What's the difference between "trying to" and "struggling to"?

"Trying to" implies an attempt, while "struggling to" suggests that the attempt is difficult and not easily achieved.