to ease difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ease difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to alleviate challenges or obstacles in various contexts, such as personal, professional, or academic situations. Example: "The new policy was implemented to ease difficulties faced by employees during the transition period."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In the Cyprus banking crisis, the West was unwilling to ease difficulties for Russian depositors, many of whom were suspected of laundering ill-gotten gains.

The New York Times

Now that Brown has helped ease the burdens on home cooks, a bipartisan push to ease difficulties for other enterprising workers could finally be in reach.

Los Angeles Times

Why have the state now add another violin to the orchestra?" Now that Brown has helped ease the burdens on home cooks — legislation that held natural appeal to the state's remaining Republicans — a bipartisan push to ease difficulties for other enterprising workers could finally be in reach.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A grant fund with $20 million available, up from the $8 million originally planned, will offer interest-free bridge loans to nonprofits that have city contracts to help ease difficulties with cash flow or to cover short-term costs.

The New York Times

One way to ease their difficulties, they decided, was to practise preventative medicine.

The Economist

This study shows the potential of the thoracoscopic part of the procedure in prone position to ease these difficulties.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

He then gave an overview of the conference, talking in particular of a need to ease the difficulties of aging, for both the elderly and their families.

The New York Times

The purchase of Nokia's mobile-phone division by far the biggest maker of Windows smartphones may do little to ease these difficulties.

The Economist

Trying to ease the difficulties of war while fostering a connection to home, many other companies have created soldier-donation programs that send things like portable PC storage devices and computerized golf simulators.

The New York Times

The point, however, is not to save Fannie and Freddie themselves but to use the two firms, which buy mortgages and resell bunches of them to investors in the form of bonds, to ease the difficulties of borrowers more generally.

The Washington Post

[Fisher struggled for many years with alcohol and substance addiction.] As a mother, I'm supposed to be here to ease her difficulties in life, and that was not always possible.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to ease difficulties", ensure the context clearly defines what specific difficulties are being addressed. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "to ease difficulties" without specifying whose difficulties or what type of difficulties are being eased. Vague language can weaken your argument or create confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ease difficulties" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It introduces the reason or intention behind an action, indicating that the action is meant to alleviate or reduce problems. Examples on Ludwig show it being used to explain the goal of policies, actions, or tools.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to ease difficulties" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to express the purpose of alleviating problems or hardships. While relatively rare in occurrence, as shown by Ludwig, it is acceptable in various contexts, maintaining a neutral to slightly professional tone. Alternatives like "to alleviate hardships" or "to mitigate challenges" can be used for nuanced variations. The key is to ensure clarity by specifying the nature and scope of the difficulties being addressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to alleviate hardships

Focuses on reducing suffering or hardship, emphasizing a more compassionate approach.

to mitigate challenges

Highlights the act of reducing the severity of challenges, often used in a professional context.

to reduce obstacles

Directly addresses the act of lessening impediments or barriers.

to smooth the path

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest making progress easier.

to facilitate progress

Emphasizes enabling or promoting forward movement and improvement.

to ameliorate problems

Focuses on improving or making problems less severe.

to lighten the burden

Metaphorically describes making something less oppressive or difficult.

to simplify complexities

Highlights the act of making complicated situations or systems easier to understand or manage.

to ease the strain

Focuses on relieving pressure or tension.

to resolve difficulties

Emphasizes finding solutions to problems or challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "to ease difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "to ease difficulties" to introduce actions or solutions aimed at reducing problems or hardships. For example, "The new policy was implemented "to ease difficulties" faced by employees during the transition period."

What are some alternatives to "to ease difficulties"?

You can use alternatives such as "to alleviate hardships", "to mitigate challenges", or "to reduce obstacles depending on the specific context.

Is "to ease difficulties" formal or informal?

"To ease difficulties" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider alternatives like "to ameliorate problems" for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "to ease difficulties" and "to solve difficulties"?

"To ease difficulties" implies reducing the impact or severity of problems, while "to solve difficulties" suggests finding complete solutions. Easing focuses on making things more manageable, whereas solving aims for a complete resolution.