Guide 109 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “trouble”
Five words that are more specific than "trouble."
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Trouble" is vague and casual. "Difficulty" is neutral; "issue" is a known problem; "complication" adds something new and tangled; "setback" is a step backwards; "strain" is ongoing load.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Difficulty neutral
neutral descriptor of trouble
Difficulty completing onboarding flows.
- 02Issue neutral
a known, tracked problem
An issue with the billing engine.
- 03Complication neutral
new, tangling factor
A complication arose with customs.
- 04Setback neutral
step backwards
A setback in the trial results.
- 05Strain formal
ongoing pressure on a system
The launch put strain on support.