to present a problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to present a problem" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing an issue or challenge that needs to be addressed. For example, "The new policy is likely to present a problem for many employees." Alternative expressions include "to pose a problem" and "to create a problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

That is going to present a problem," he told BBC Breakfast on Friday.

The Guardian

"It sets the stage for the department to come into the court to present a problem".

The New York Times - Tech

That is going to present a problem," he told BBC Breakfast.

The Guardian

The final was provisionally scheduled to be played on Saturday, but that was going to present a problem.

The New York Times - Arts

But probably more important, despite their cooperation in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, Mr. Zadran's forces began to present a problem for American forces.

The New York Times

Fertilizer runoff is too low to present a problem, and very few Mayas bathe or wash clothes at the lake edge.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

A case study about using bio-inspired strategy is trying to present a problem-solving approach, yet further cooperation is still needed to utilize biomimetic studies for design inspiration.

Journal of Bionic Engineering

The motivation, the UN body alleged, was an effort to "clean the streets" of street children in order to "present a problem-free city to the world" during the Olympics. .

Huffington Post

And although "tiny" when he arrived in custody, the boy has grown taller and heavier, and would continue to present "a custodial problem wherever he is," Mr. Soccio said.

The New York Times

It's going to present a lasting problem.

Huffington Post

In addition to that, the Black community needs to pay more scrutiny to our spending patterns as excessive consumption continues to present a serious problem within our communities.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with modal verbs like 'likely to', 'could', or 'might' to discuss potential risks in business or scientific reports.

Common error

Do not confuse this with 'to present with a problem'. While 'present with' is common in medical contexts (e.g., 'the patient presented with a cough'), when you want to say something is causing trouble, the direct form "to present a problem" is the standard and correct version.

Linguistic Context

This is an infinitive phrase consisting of the verb 'present', the indefinite article 'a', and the noun 'problem'. It typically functions as a direct object or follows a linking verb construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard and highly frequent construction used to denote the emergence of an obstacle.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to present a problem" is an essential tool in English for describing challenges and obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms its high frequency and grammatical correctness, especially in professional environments. It is most effective when used in neutral reporting to describe how certain conditions or actions inevitably lead to difficulties. While synonyms like "<a href="/s/to+pose+a+problem" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to pose a problem" exist, this phrase remains a staple for clarity and precision in both journalistic and scientific discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to pose a problem

Focuses on the problem as a challenge or question that needs to be addressed.

to represent a problem

Suggests that something serves as or embodies a specific difficulty.

to create an issue

Stronger emphasis on the causal action of making the problem happen.

to constitute a challenge

More formal, implying the situation is intrinsically difficult.

to act as a hurdle

Metaphorical phrasing implying an obstacle to progress.

to engender a difficulty

Very formal, used primarily in academic or literary contexts.

to manifest as a problem

Describes the appearance or realization of a problem.

to serve as a bottleneck

Specific to operational or flow-related problems.

to bring about a complication

Indicates an added layer of difficulty to an existing situation.

to arise as a concern

Passive construction focusing on the problem's emergence.

FAQs

How to use "to present a problem" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an obstacle, such as: "The lack of witnesses is going to present a problem for the investigation."

What can I say instead of "to present a problem"?

Depending on your tone, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/to+pose+a+problem" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to pose a problem" or "<a href="/s/to+create+an+issue" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to create an issue".

Is "to present a problem" formal or informal?

It is a neutral to formal phrase, making it suitable for both professional journalism and academic research.

What's the difference between "to present a problem" and "to pose a problem"?

There is virtually no semantic difference, though "<a href="/s/to+pose+a+problem" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to pose a problem" is slightly more common in literary contexts while the main phrase is preferred in news and technical reports.