suggesting difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suggesting difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something may pose challenges or obstacles. Example: "The recent changes in policy are suggesting difficulties for many employees in adapting to the new system."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In recent months, the group's spectacular attacks have been followed by ebbs, suggesting difficulties in sustaining the attacks.

The New York Times

Before surgery, trismus, megaloglossia, and the disturbance of cervical vertebral excursion were noted, suggesting difficulties with ventilation/intubation.

JA Clinical Reports

Interestingly, growth of the complemented strain and strains harboring empty pKK214 was severely inhibited by the decreased pH suggesting difficulties in plasmid maintenance during growth at pH 5, and was therefore not included in this analysis.

Plosone

The localization of human Lamin C, lacking a CaaX box, displays internal nuclear localization, which is similar to that observed for Drosophila Lamin C. Lamin B2 shows somewhat aberrant localization, suggesting difficulties in assembly, which nevertheless, under controlled heat shock treatment did not affect viability.

Plosone

Different organizations have adopted different cutoff points, suggesting difficulties in distinguishing GDM [ 2].

BioMed Research International

Children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) (1) show a propensity toward risk taking and reckless behavior, suggesting difficulties with decision making and impulsivity.

Biological Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

However plausible or implausible, the focus on practical rationality is unlikely to diffuse the empirical issues, since there is more empirical work suggesting difficulty with familiar conceptions of reason than there is making trouble for familiar notions of character.

SEP

Fourth, the HC group significantly had high IQ than patient group, suggesting difficulty in case control.

BMC Psychiatry

Orthologs of TECTA were detected in other fish lineages, again suggesting difficulty in detecting the D. rerio ortholog.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Higher blood Pb concentrations at time of testing are associated with an increased number of false alarms in no-go trials, suggesting difficulty in inhibiting a prepotent response.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The analyses indicated that, compared with non-ADHD individuals, those diagnosed with ADHD were consistently slower in stopping an ongoing response, suggesting difficulty in response inhibition.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suggesting difficulties", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is causing the potential problems. Providing specific details strengthens your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "suggesting difficulties" when the problems are already confirmed or evident. The phrase implies a possibility, not a certainty. Use stronger language like "demonstrating difficulties" if the issues are proven.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suggesting difficulties" functions as a present participle phrase, modifying a noun or clause by indicating that something is giving an impression of potential problems. It serves to introduce a degree of uncertainty or possibility regarding the presence of challenges. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

26%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suggesting difficulties" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to indicate that something implies potential problems or challenges, without explicitly stating that they exist. While not exceedingly common, it maintains a neutral to formal tone and is frequently used in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly identifies the source of the potential difficulties and avoid using it when the problems are already confirmed. Consider alternatives like "indicating challenges" or "implying obstacles" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicating challenges

Replaces "difficulties" with "challenges", focusing on the problematic aspects.

implying obstacles

Uses "implying" instead of "suggesting" and "obstacles" for "difficulties", adding a slightly stronger sense of obstruction.

hinting at problems

Employs "hinting" to soften the suggestion and "problems" as a general term for difficulties.

raising concerns about challenges

More explicitly states that there are worries associated with specific challenges.

alluding to potential issues

"Alluding" indicates a more indirect reference to "issues", making the phrase less direct.

pointing towards snags

Uses more casual language with "pointing towards" and "snags" to denote difficulties.

signaling potential setbacks

"Signaling" conveys a warning, while "setbacks" highlights the hindering nature of difficulties.

intimating complications

Uses the more formal word "intimating" for suggesting and "complications" for difficulties.

portending troubles

"Portending" suggests a prediction of future troubles, making it a more dramatic alternative.

presenting a challenging scenario

Shifts the focus to describing the overall situation as challenging, rather than directly pointing out difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "suggesting difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "suggesting difficulties" to indicate that something implies potential problems or challenges. For example, "The company's declining profits are suggesting difficulties in the coming fiscal year."

What are some alternatives to "suggesting difficulties"?

Some alternatives include "indicating challenges", "implying obstacles", or "hinting at problems". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it better to say "suggesting difficulties" or "indicating difficulties"?

Both "suggesting difficulties" and "indicating difficulties" are correct. "Suggesting" implies a more subtle hint, while "indicating" is more direct. Choose the word that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "suggesting difficulties" and "demonstrating difficulties"?

"Suggesting difficulties" implies potential or possible problems. "Demonstrating difficulties", on the other hand, means that the problems are already evident and are being shown or proven. If the problems are clearly apparent, use "demonstrating"; otherwise, "suggesting" is more appropriate.