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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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surmount challenge

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surmount challenge" is not correct in standard English; it should be "surmount the challenge." You can use it when discussing overcoming difficulties or obstacles in various contexts, such as personal growth, business, or education.
Example: "Despite the obstacles, she was determined to surmount the challenge and achieve her goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

We created an advisory council made up of teenage girls to assist us in our Girl Up campaign, which helps adolescent girls in developing countries surmount challenges.

News & Media

The New York Times

Judging from all three, the strong figures, language and action show how Americans embrace and surmount challenges with determination and courage.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The company, which competes against the likes of Cvent, Eventbrite, Amiando and Ticketfly, says that it's managed to surmount challenges specific to Eastern Europe, which gives it an advantage over these others.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Of course, like just about any system ever put forward in artificial intelligence, the program faces the difficult-to-surmount challenge known as scale-up: what works in a few levels on a simple, older game system almost certainly won't work on larger ones.

News & Media

The New Yorker

There are many reasons given for this assignment but the one I want to highlight here is that knitting a pair of socks (not an easy task!) means figuring things out, managing frustration, and surmounting challenges.

News & Media

Huffington Post

To surmount this challenge, smoothing procedures for three different second-level non-variation scenarios were introduced.

I had to come up with a way to surmount the challenge and to take the risk off the customer.

News & Media

Forbes

To surmount aforesaid challenge, Imatinib (IMM) loaded Poly-lactide-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (IMM-PLGA-NPs) were developed and optimized by Box Behnken Design as a new treatment stratagem in malignant glioma.

Notwithstanding this, sparsity of solar sites, instrument maintenance, policy and fiscal issues constraint the availability of model input data that must be used for forecasting the onsite value of G. To surmount these challenge, low-cost, readily-available satellite products accessible over large spatial domains can provide viable alternatives.

In the United Kingdom, they had to create a whole new cabinet agency just to surmount that challenge.

News & Media

Huffington Post

These actions won't surmount the challenge; but they may, he said, set an example to pressure politicians to enact strong climate-change legislation.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the act of overcoming an obstacle, use the standard phrase "surmount the challenge" rather than "surmount challenge". This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Ensure you include "the" between "surmount" and "challenge". Omitting "the" creates a grammatically incorrect phrase that may confuse readers. The correct form is "surmount the challenge".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

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Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surmount challenge" functions as a verb and noun combination where "surmount" (though missing the definite article) intends to convey overcoming or conquering, but lacks grammatical correctness as pointed out by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "surmount" suggests overcoming a difficulty, the phrase "surmount challenge" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "surmount the challenge" or "surmount challenges". This ensures clarity and avoids confusing the reader. The verb "surmount" is best suited for formal and neutral contexts. Always remember to include "the" to properly specify the challenge being overcome. Alternative phrases such as ""overcome the challenge"" or "rise above the challenge" are more common and can provide suitable substitutes.

FAQs

How do I properly use "surmount" in a sentence?

The verb "surmount" requires a direct object. When talking about overcoming a difficult situation, the correct phrasing is "surmount the challenge" or "surmount challenges". For example: "They managed to "overcome the challenge"." is better than "They managed to surmount challenge".

What is the difference between "surmount a challenge" and "surmount the challenge"?

"Surmount the challenge" is generally preferred because "the" specifies a particular, identified challenge. "Surmount a challenge" is grammatically correct but less common, implying one of many possible challenges. In most contexts, using "surmount the challenge" provides more clarity.

Is it better to say "surmount challenges" or "overcome challenges"?

While both are acceptable, "overcome challenges" is more common and generally preferred in contemporary English. "Surmount challenges" is correct but sounds slightly more formal or archaic. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone of your writing.

What are some alternative ways to say "surmount the challenge"?

You can use alternatives like ""overcome the challenge"", "rise above the challenge", or "triumph over the challenge" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: