what was the difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was the difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about a specific challenge or problem that someone faced in a situation. Example: "During the project, I often wondered what was the difficulty that prevented us from meeting the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What was the difficulty over the last couple of weeks?" he asked.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This in turn seems to be desirable in pedagogical contexts.' Sentence 4: 'Schlenker et al. introduce a social-psychological model of personal responsibility and examine its application to study success.' 6 What is the difficulty in operationalizing a latent construct?

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

□Yes □No 3. What is the difficulty in providing health education during clinical practice to patients with hypertension?

BMC Family Practice

What are the difficulties of running a thinktank outside London?

The Guardian

–What are the difficulties of maintaining a multinational force?

The New York Times

What were the difficulties in transferring a film to the stage?

The Guardian

What are the difficulties and limitations of such a procedure?

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

(2) What are the difficulties involved with carrying out these technological changes?

Teaching and Teacher Education

rusty: And as a follow-on: What are the difficulties that boards will encounter formulating those responsibilities?

Forbes

It discussed how neighborhood participated in the decision-making process and what are the difficulties in the process of light rail construction.

Urban Rail Transit

The following questions were addressed in this work: Question 1 General evaluation of BETA: What are the difficulties encountered during the application of the BETA approach in its entirety, and what are the limitations of the BETA tool?

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what was the difficulty" when inquiring about a specific, identifiable challenge or obstacle that someone faced in the past. It's suitable for direct and focused questioning.

Common error

Avoid using "what was the difficulty" excessively in highly formal writing. While grammatically sound, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "what challenges were encountered" or "what impediments were faced" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was the difficulty" functions as an interrogative phrase, specifically used to inquire about a past challenge or problem. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what was the difficulty" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for inquiring about past challenges, as affirmed by Ludwig. While considered relatively rare in usage, it is most often found in News & Media and Science contexts. Alternatives like "what challenge was faced" or "what problem arose" offer varied options for expressing similar ideas. While the phrase is correct, keep in mind the register you are writing in. In more formal contexts, consider stronger wording that is more apt for a professional environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what challenge was faced

Focuses on 'challenge' instead of 'difficulty'.

what problem arose

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'problem' and 'was' with 'arose'.

what obstacle was encountered

Substitutes 'difficulty' with 'obstacle' and uses 'encountered'.

what complication occurred

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'complication' and uses 'occurred'.

what setback happened

Changes 'difficulty' to 'setback' and uses 'happened'.

what issue presented itself

Focuses on the 'issue' that 'presented itself'.

what snag was experienced

Uses the less common word 'snag' to mean difficulty.

what impediment existed

Employs 'impediment' as a more formal substitute for difficulty.

what was the stumbling block

Uses a more idiomatic expression for difficulty.

what hiccup occurred

Uses the informal term 'hiccup' for a minor difficulty.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what was the difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "what challenge was faced", "what problem arose", or "what obstacle was encountered" to express similar meanings.

Is it appropriate to use "what was the difficulty" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "what was the difficulty" can sound somewhat direct. In very formal contexts, consider alternatives like "what challenges were encountered?" or "what impediments were faced?" to maintain a more professional tone.

What's a more informal way to ask about a difficulty?

Informally, you might ask, "What was the snag?" or "What went wrong?" However, these alternatives are less precise and may not be suitable for all situations.

How does "what was the difficulty" differ from "what are the difficulties"?

"What was the difficulty" refers to a specific past instance, whereas "what are the difficulties" refers to general or ongoing challenges. The choice depends on whether you're asking about a particular event or a broader situation.