surmount barriers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surmount barriers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing overcoming obstacles or challenges in various contexts, such as personal growth, business, or social issues. Example: "Through determination and hard work, she was able to surmount barriers that once seemed insurmountable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Others won't make the effort to surmount barriers of jargon and methodology because they are too busy.

The Guardian

Mobile treatment may provide an opportunity to expand outreach to parolees to surmount barriers to traditional clinic treatment.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

It appeared that the excitement and satisfaction of pursuing their goals motivated these individuals to surmount barriers and persist through difficulties.

Britannica

So we should move aggressively to identify, test and evaluate a variety of new approaches and to institute and spread effective initiatives, to help more poor children advance and poor adults surmount barriers to success in the labor market.

The New York Times

The new 10-week residency with an artist from the Chekov Theater Ensemble, Ms. Kipnis said, is intended to help "the kids build a sense of community, respect and understanding, using performing arts as the vehicle to surmount barriers and expand their knowledge".

The New York Times

73– 75 However, even with a perfect sampling, MD simulations cannot surmount barriers in the energy landscape higher than the total energy added to the system.

Advances and Applications in Bioinformatics and Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"We have a clear understanding: one company, one vision, one chairman, two cultures".DaimlerChrysler has surmounted barriers as simple but important as the time difference between Germany and America.

The Economist

These results are explicable in terms of dislocations surmounting barriers inertially, which is a temperature independent process, where the viscosity is temperature independent.

Acta Materialia

OBJECTIVE: There is growing interest in identifying and surmounting barriers to employment for people with schizophrenia.

Duke University

But organizations will benefit if leaders learn to surmount those barriers.

Harvard Business Review

Yet surmount these barriers and universities are well placed – either as an alternative to thinktanks or as a partner.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surmount barriers" when you want to convey a sense of significant effort and achievement in overcoming obstacles. It suggests a deliberate and forceful overcoming of challenges.

Common error

While "surmount" is a perfectly valid word, using it too frequently in informal writing can make your tone sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for more common alternatives like "overcome" or "get past" in casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surmount barriers" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "surmount" is a transitive verb and "barriers" is its direct object. It describes the action of overcoming obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surmount barriers" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of overcoming obstacles. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, the phrase carries a slightly formal tone, making it more suitable for professional or academic contexts than casual conversation. Its frequency is uncommon, appearing across various sources like news outlets, scientific journals, and business publications. Related phrases include "overcome obstacles" and "break through challenges". It's essential to use "surmount barriers" deliberately to convey a sense of significant effort and achievement, while being mindful of the context to avoid sounding overly pretentious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overcome obstacles

This alternative uses a more common verb, "overcome", instead of "surmount", making it slightly less formal.

break through challenges

This phrase employs "break through", suggesting a forceful overcoming of challenges, emphasizing the effort involved.

conquer difficulties

Using "conquer" implies a complete victory over difficulties, highlighting the achievement aspect.

rise above adversity

This alternative emphasizes overcoming negative circumstances, focusing on the resilience required.

triumph over impediments

This phrase uses more formal vocabulary, like "triumph" and "impediments", increasing the sophistication of the expression.

prevail against setbacks

Similar to "rise above adversity", this emphasizes persistence in the face of negative events.

defeat limitations

Focuses on overcoming personal or systemic constraints.

navigate complexities

This shifts the focus to skillful management of intricate situations rather than direct overcoming.

transcend limitations

Implies going beyond or exceeding limitations, rather than simply overcoming them.

address challenges

Suggests facing and dealing with challenges directly, but not necessarily overcoming them completely.

FAQs

How can I use "surmount barriers" in a sentence?

You can use "surmount barriers" to describe overcoming obstacles. For example, "Through perseverance, they were able to "surmount barriers" that seemed insurmountable".

What are some alternatives to "surmount barriers"?

Some alternatives to "surmount barriers" include "overcome obstacles", "break through challenges", or "conquer difficulties", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "surmount barriers" a formal phrase?

While grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, "surmount barriers" leans towards a more formal register. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "surmount barriers" and "overcome barriers"?

"Surmount barriers" and "overcome barriers" are very similar. "Surmount" suggests a more deliberate and potentially difficult climb or effort to get over the barrier, while "overcome" is a more general term for succeeding despite the barrier.