technical difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "technical difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to problems resulting from the use of technology. For example: We apologize for the disruption, but we experienced a technical difficulty with the audio system.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How about this for a technical difficulty?

Independent

"We had a technical difficulty yesterday," he announced.

The New York Times - Arts

"I thought it was some kind of technical difficulty".

The New York Times

I don't believe that the technical difficulty involved in making matzo is a barrier to entry.

The New York Times

The performance is scored by judges on the basis of artistic impression and technical difficulty.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Big companies feast on technical difficulty; it may be what they do best.

The New York Times

I would have happily concluded the story in her lifetime but couldn't – it was my technical difficulty, not any delicacy.

The Guardian - Books

There is even a sort of Verdi piano concerto: a set of variations of daunting technical difficulty for the soloist.

The New York Times - Arts

There are more than 10 miles of blazed trails rated for technical difficulty with short climbs and descents.

The New York Times - Travel

The handful of people who run figure skating will be able to bring out all the arguments about technical difficulty.

The New York Times - Sports

There only remains to negotiate the technical difficulty of slipping under the radar of the Brecht estate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "technical difficulty" when referring to unforeseen problems arising from the use of complex or technological systems, rather than simple errors.

Common error

Avoid using "technical difficulty" when the problem stems from user error or lack of training; reserve it for genuine malfunctions or system-related issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "technical difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. It refers to a problem or challenge related to technology or a technical system. Examples in Ludwig show its use across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "technical difficulty" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe problems related to technology, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase and is versatile enough for use in neutral contexts like news reports and scientific documents. While alternatives such as "system malfunction" or "equipment failure" may be more precise in certain cases, "technical difficulty" provides a generally understood way to communicate about technological issues. Common usage errors include misattributing user errors as "technical difficulties".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

technological challenge

Focuses on the challenge aspect of the technical problem.

engineering problem

Emphasizes the engineering nature of the difficulty.

system malfunction

Highlights the failure of a system to operate correctly.

equipment failure

Specifies that the difficulty arises from the failure of equipment.

operational issue

Broadly refers to a problem affecting operations.

glitch in the system

Informal way of describing a minor technical problem.

debugging problem

Pertains specifically to issues encountered during debugging processes.

hardware issue

Pinpoints the problem to a hardware-related malfunction.

software bug

Identifies a software-related defect or error.

programming error

Refers to a mistake made during programming.

FAQs

How can I use "technical difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "technical difficulty" to describe a problem with technology, such as "We experienced a "technical difficulty" during the presentation" or "The website is temporarily unavailable due to a "technical difficulty"".

What phrases can I use instead of "technical difficulty"?

Alternatives include "technological challenge", "system malfunction", or "equipment failure", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "technical difficulty" in formal writing?

Yes, "technical difficulty" is appropriate in formal writing to describe problems related to technology or systems. More informal options like "glitch in the system" might be better suited for casual communication.

What's the difference between "technical difficulty" and "technical issue"?

"Technical difficulty" often implies a more significant problem or impediment, while "technical issues" can refer to a broader range of problems, including minor ones. The choice depends on the severity and impact of the problem.