what could be the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

"what could be the problem" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to ask about the potential issue or difficulty that someone is experiencing. For example, "I keep getting error messages on my computer. What could be the problem?" or "My car won't start. What could be the problem?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We do have a sense of what could be the problem.

Independent

There were no police there, the fans reasoned: so what could be the problem?

The Guardian - Sport

What could be the problem?

The Journal of Headache and Pain

And this brings us to what could be the problem with eating fast – it's not indigestion, but the disruption of the usual mechanism that makes you feel full.

BBC

What could be the problem with that?

Huffington Post

The quick response will provide you greater information on what could be the problem with your pet and if further needed, can refer you to an animal hospital nearby.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Still, it creates a contrast between him and some of Bush's possible 2016 Republican primary opponents, and shows what could be the biggest problem in finding a compromise on immigration reform this year.

Huffington Post

There are several thousand Ukrainian military personnel on more than a dozen bases across the Crimea, creating what could be the most explosive problem facing the Russians in their operation to annex the peninsula.

The Guardian

And racial politics still probably favour Mr Hahn: blacks, who make up 11% of the population (and a far greater proportion of government jobs), may be reluctant to vote for what could be the first of many Latino mayors.A bigger problem for Mr Hahn is corruption.

The Economist

What, then, could be the problem?

The New York Times

If he was declared bankrupt after problems with his personal finances, details would usually be kept by credit reference agencies until around six years after he was discharged from bankruptcy, so it's worth getting a report from the main agencies to see what could be causing the problem.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what could be the problem", ensure the context is clear. It's best used when there's a perceived issue without an obvious cause. For example, "The application isn't working as expected; what could be the problem?"

Common error

Avoid using "what could be the problem" when the issue is already well-defined. Instead of saying "The code is broken; what could be the problem?", specify the known issue: "The code is broken; how can we fix it?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what could be the problem" functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the potential cause or source of an issue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Examples show its use in seeking explanations for various problems, from medical diagnoses to technical malfunctions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what could be the problem" is a grammatically correct and frequently used interrogative phrase to ask about the potential cause of an issue. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news articles, scientific discussions, and general online content. While versatile, it is important to ensure that the context is clear, as misusing it can lead to misunderstandings. Alternatives include phrases like "what might be the issue" or "what is potentially wrong". Using "what could be the problem" implies an open-ended search for explanations, while related phrases may indicate varying degrees of formality or certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what might be the issue

Replaces "problem" with "issue" and "could" with "might", offering a slightly softer tone.

what is potentially wrong

Uses "wrong" instead of "problem" and restructures the sentence to emphasize the potential for something being amiss.

what seems to be the trouble

More formal and often used when offering assistance.

what's the potential difficulty

Substitutes "problem" with "difficulty" and uses a contraction for a more casual tone.

what's causing the issue

Focuses on the cause of the issue, rather than just the potential problem itself.

what's the underlying cause

Seeks a deeper, more fundamental explanation.

what's the source of the trouble

Similar to asking about the cause, but uses "source" to imply origin.

where does the difficulty lie

More indirect, inquiring about the location or area of difficulty.

what complications are present

More technical or formal, used when assessing a situation with known complexities.

what snags do we have

An informal phrase that indicates there are problems to consider.

FAQs

How can I use "what could be the problem" in a sentence?

Use "what could be the problem" to inquire about the potential cause of an issue when it's not immediately obvious. For example, "The website is loading slowly; what could be the problem?"

What can I say instead of "what could be the problem"?

You can use alternatives like "what might be the issue", "what is potentially wrong", or "what seems to be the trouble" depending on the context.

Is "what could be the problem" formal or informal?

"What could be the problem" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in many situations. However, more formal alternatives exist, such as "what seems to be the trouble".

What's the difference between "what could be the problem" and "what is the problem"?

"What could be the problem" implies uncertainty and a search for potential causes, whereas "what is the problem" suggests the problem is known and defined, and you are seeking clarification or details.