with difficulty being able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with difficulty being able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is struggling to achieve or accomplish something. Example: "She was with difficulty being able to complete the marathon due to her injury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The obvious costs of these deployments aside - both financial and political - we are dancing with the the Devil for more troubling reasons that Obama may only with difficulty be able to address.

Huffington Post

Finally, as postulated in a study with people with spinal cord injury [ 35], people facing barriers may, with added difficulty, be able to overcome them (participation) but that the experience of encountering barriers may reduce QOL.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, having missed the battle, fled Riyadh with most of his family and after some difficulty was able to take refuge in Kuwait.

Britannica

In 1809 the French returned to Portugal, briefly holding Oporto and Lisbon; but Wellington, with some difficulties, was able to outflank them and lead a force toward Madrid.

Britannica

Currently passengers with mobility difficulties are able to book a bus to pick them up and drop them off.

BBC

All patients with sitting difficulties were able to sit at the time of the latest follow-up, confirming the results of previous studies that femoral resection provides a marked improvement in sitting ability (Castle and Schneider 1978, McCarthy et al. 1988, Widmann et al. 1999, Abu-Rajab and Bennet 2007).

Acta Orthopaedica

Some of their friends, notably those with more recognised learning difficulties, were able to get help and many have thrived.

The Guardian

When speaking directly with surveyed founders, they explained the difficulties of not being able to find and retain employees as the result of educational challenges, minimal awareness of the value of working for a startup and a lack of incentive for joining a young company.

Huffington Post

They expressed difficulty and frustration about not being able to talk with other residents, since most of them had dementia.

BMC Geriatrics

However, several families mentioned difficulties with being able to encapsulate the daily or weekly fluctuations they experienced.

BMC Psychiatry

"Nowadays everyone is running around all the time, and, as a result, you see 30- and 35-year-old women under a lot of stress from the tempo of life, and they are having difficulties with their health, such as not being able to get pregnant".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more concise alternatives like "barely able to" or "struggling to" for improved clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "with difficulty being able to" in contexts where simpler phrases convey the same meaning more directly. Overly complex phrasing can obscure your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with difficulty being able to" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the manner or degree of ease with which an action is performed. It suggests that the action is accomplished, but not without considerable effort or struggle. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with difficulty being able to" is grammatically correct but relatively rare in modern English. Ludwig's analysis of various sources indicates its use in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. It conveys that an action is performed, but not easily, emphasizing the struggle involved. While grammatically sound, simpler alternatives may often be preferable for clarity and conciseness. Consider options like "barely able to" or "struggling to" to enhance readability and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely able to

Implies a minimal level of ability or success, emphasizing how close to failure one is.

hardly able to

Suggests a greater degree of difficulty or improbability than the original phrase.

struggling to be able to

Highlights the continuous effort and challenge involved.

having a hard time being able to

Emphasizes the experience of hardship or difficulty over a period.

laboriously able to

Conveys a sense of strenuous effort and toil.

with great effort able to

Focuses on the significant exertion required to achieve something.

by the skin of one's teeth able to

Idiomatic expression indicating success achieved by a narrow margin.

with much difficulty succeeding in

Replaces 'being able to' with 'succeeding in' to shift focus to the successful outcome despite challenges.

against the odds able to

Implies overcoming significant obstacles or improbabilities.

only just managed to

Highlights the narrow margin of success and the effort involved in achieving it.

FAQs

What does "with difficulty being able to" mean?

The phrase "with difficulty being able to" means that someone is only just capable of doing something, and it requires a significant amount of effort or struggle.

Are there shorter alternatives to "with difficulty being able to"?

Yes, consider using shorter alternatives like "barely able to", "hardly able to", or "struggling to" for conciseness.

Is "with difficulty being able to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "with difficulty being able to" is grammatically correct, but it can sound somewhat wordy. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

How can I use "with difficulty being able to" in a sentence?

Example: "He was "with difficulty being able to" complete the task due to the complex instructions."