trouble of choosing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trouble of choosing" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "trouble with choosing." Example: "I often find myself in trouble with choosing the right outfit for an occasion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This, thought the commission, might be an abuse of its dominance in operating systems: buy a PC, and unless you took the trouble of choosing otherwise, you would browse the web through Explorer.In December that year Microsoft promised the watchdog that until 2014 it would provide a "choice screen", asking European Windows users whether they wanted to install another browser.

The Economist

"Vouchers and charter schools will never save public education, and everybody knows that," said Mr. Ross, who contends that early promising results have more to do with the fact that children whose parents went to the trouble of choosing a school are likely to care a great deal about education.

The New York Times

The clients will face the trouble of choosing or creating composition plans, among numerous possible plans, that satisfy their quality-of-service (QoS) requirements.

Journal of Systems and Software

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It saves you the trouble of designing, choosing colors, and choosing a yarn.

WikiHow

Even so, iPhoto and XP both represent welcome developments that may spare you the trouble and cost of choosing and buying someone else's program.

The New York Times - Tech

Because seriously, if you're going to go to all the trouble of not choosing your pet's name, you might as well toss in some special characters and alternating caps.

TechCrunch

In a new clip released online Sunday night, the Simpsons parents are having trouble getting intimate because of the looming stress of choosing someone to vote for.

Vice

The trouble with this solution is that it doesn't focus on the particular act of choosing to break his promise.

SEP

On the one hand, the prospect of choosing between one of the "either-or" scenarios that many suggested was troubling me.

Science Magazine

Indeed, it was reported to us by one of the numerous friendly prisoners we freely conversed with that day that a white pitcher we faced had gotten into a heap of trouble by choosing an Asian lover.

Huffington Post

Kramnik is a master of defense, but he did not court trouble here, choosing the more sedate 11 Qd11

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more standard phrasing like "difficulty in choosing" or "trouble with choosing" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. These alternatives are widely accepted and understood.

Common error

Avoid using "trouble of" followed directly by a gerund. Instead, consider using "trouble with" or restructuring the sentence to use "difficulty in" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trouble of choosing" functions as a noun phrase that describes a difficulty or problem associated with the act of selecting or making a choice. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's not standard English, suggesting grammatical issues.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "trouble of choosing" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI suggests it's not considered standard English. It aims to express difficulty in making a selection, but grammatically sound alternatives like "difficulty in choosing" or "trouble with choosing" are preferred. Usage ranges from neutral to informal contexts, but formal writing benefits from the clearer alternatives. Pay attention to grammar and context to convey your intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficulty in choosing

Replaces "trouble of" with "difficulty in", offering a grammatically standard alternative.

difficulty selecting

Substitutes both "trouble of" and "choosing" with "difficulty" and "selecting", respectively, for a more concise and formal tone.

challenge of selecting

Employs "challenge of" instead of "trouble of", suggesting a demanding but potentially rewarding task.

problem of selecting

Replaces "trouble" with "problem", emphasizing the problematic aspect of the selection process.

issue of choosing

Uses "issue of" to frame the act of choosing as a matter needing resolution.

predicament of choosing

Emphasizes the difficult situation involved in making a choice.

dilemma in choosing

Highlights the conflicting options and the difficulty in deciding among them.

labor of choosing

Conveys the effort and work involved in the act of selecting.

burden of choosing

Implies that the act of choosing is a responsibility or weight to bear.

ordeal of choosing

Exaggerates the difficulty to suggest a painful or trying experience.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "trouble of choosing"?

Consider using phrases like "difficulty in choosing" or "trouble with choosing". These options are more widely accepted and adhere to standard English grammar.

Is "trouble of choosing" considered formal or informal?

While the phrase might appear in some contexts, it's generally considered less formal and potentially grammatically questionable. Opt for clearer and more formal alternatives in professional or academic writing.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "trouble of choosing" to improve its clarity?

Instead of "He had trouble of choosing a gift", try "He had "difficulty choosing" a gift" or "He had trouble with choosing a gift" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

What is the difference between "trouble of choosing" and "difficulty in choosing"?

"Difficulty in choosing" is a more standard and grammatically correct way to express the challenge of making a selection. "Trouble of choosing" is less common and can sound awkward to native English speakers.