substantial struggle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial struggle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or considerable difficulty or challenge faced in a situation. Example: "The team faced a substantial struggle in meeting the project deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Southern Lebanon was still in need of liberation, a substantial struggle still looming over Muslims in the late twentieth century.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We applaud Talbot's focus on a critical and often overlooked issue, and the response of Skylar's friends, family, and larger community in Connecticut, but seek to remind readers of the substantial struggles that the larger transgender population faces across the United States.

The New Yorker

In her journey as a young woman in New York City's underbelly, Sunny undoubtedly encountered more substantial struggles than Caulfield's momentary escape from his family and privilege.

Huffington Post

Those of us with mental issues, however, all have substantial experience struggling.

Duke University

The artists I know who have managed to make art a full-time or nearly full-time career face substantial daily struggles -- personal and financial -- and they are the lucky ones.

Huffington Post

They dealt with substantial health struggles yet simultaneously identified personal growth.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Trump: It may be small to some Forbes readers but could be substantial to someone struggling to make payments.

Forbes

Braun failed to gain substantial momentum and struggled with campaign funding, causing her drop out of the race just four days before the Iowa caucuses.

Huffington Post

However, a substantial minority of struggling students could not be identified early in these studies.

BMC Medical Education

Part of the bitterness is their fruitless 17-year struggle for substantial compensation.

The New York Times

This year, a drop in the price of oil and a rise in population augured substantial cutbacks and a struggle to meet the health and safety needs of citizens.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial struggle" to convey a sense of significant effort and difficulty in overcoming an obstacle. It is suitable when highlighting both the magnitude of the challenge and the active engagement in facing it.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial struggle" in overly casual or informal settings. While grammatically correct, it carries a weight of formality that may sound unnatural in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "big challenge" or "tough time" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial struggle" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "struggle". Ludwig AI indicates it's a grammatically correct way to describe a significant difficulty. It is used to emphasize the degree or extent of the struggle.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial struggle" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, according to Ludwig AI. It describes a significant difficulty or challenge and finds its use primarily in News & Media, Academia, and Science. Although its meaning is clear, its occurrence is relatively uncommon. When writing, use "substantial struggle" to describe significant efforts when facing a difficulty. If you want to convey the same concept in less formal settings, remember to consider using other terms such as "significant challenge" or "considerable difficulty".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant challenge

Replaces "struggle" with a more neutral term, focusing on the difficulty rather than the effort.

considerable difficulty

Similar to "significant challenge", but emphasizes the degree of hardship involved.

major hardship

Highlights the severity of the difficulty experienced.

arduous undertaking

Shifts the focus to the effort required, suggesting a task that is both difficult and lengthy.

formidable challenge

Emphasizes the intimidating nature of the difficulty.

serious adversity

Focuses on facing unfavorable circumstances or misfortune.

intense conflict

Highlights the confrontational aspect of the challenge.

tough battle

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the difficulty as a fight.

severe trial

Presents the difficulty as a test of endurance and resilience.

grueling ordeal

Emphasizes the exhausting and unpleasant nature of the experience.

FAQs

What does "substantial struggle" mean?

The phrase "substantial struggle" refers to a significant or considerable difficulty or challenge faced in a situation. It implies that the struggle is not minor but involves a notable amount of effort and difficulty to overcome.

How can I use "substantial struggle" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial struggle" to describe a situation where significant effort and difficulty are involved. For example, "The company faced a "substantial struggle" to remain profitable during the economic downturn."

What can I say instead of "substantial struggle"?

You can use alternatives like "significant challenge", "considerable difficulty", or "major hardship" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "substantial struggle" formal or informal?

The phrase "substantial struggle" leans towards the formal side. While it's appropriate for news articles, academic papers, and professional communications, it might sound a bit out of place in very casual conversations. In informal settings, consider using phrases like "tough time" or "big challenge".