30 Sentences on How To or Not To Use the Word “Problem”

Tips to improve your communication

Photo by Afif Kusuma on Unsplash

You’re a member of a team of seven developers working on a new online shopping application. Yesterday, your product owner (PO) has discovered that some of the new features you have implemented do not work correctly on mobile devices. He came to your workplace to talk about the issue.

“Good morning guys, we have a problem. And we need to fix it. The application does not work correctly on mobile devices,” he said.

Let’s imagine now that this was not what he told you. Instead of it, he said:

“Good morning guys, we have a challenge. We need to optimize the application for mobile devices.”

Can you see the difference?

By using the word “challenge” instead of “problem,” the PO moved the focus away from being stuck to setting a goal and potential.

We can use the word “problem” in conversations surrounding various topics. Yet sometimes, using it becomes an obstacle. If you are looking for different ways how to use or substitute this word when you speak or write, keep reading.

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How to Use the Word “Problem” in a Sentence?

1. “Although you can solve any problem with enough time and money, we don’t have that much time and money.” — David Linthicum
2. “Problem-solving teaches students to be critical out-of-the-box thinkers, hone organizational skills, and build a rational thought process required for making logical decisions.” — Valeria Maltoni
3. What problems are we trying to solve?
4. There is no correct solution, as this is not a problem itself.
5. The solution to this problem is a better understanding of how the application works, and being generally careful.
6. Is user experience part of the problem definition?
7. The cause of problems like this is our own poor judgment.
8. This will just create unsolvable problems.
9. Knowing potential problems in advance will always help implement better applications.
10. There are a few problems with this assumption.
11. Tossing money at a problem is not a “technology solution.”
12. We’re not truly understanding the root causes of performance problems.
13. We are losing track of how to test performance by just tossing resources at the problem.
14. Using this design can help mitigate such problems.
15. This problem will feel cryptic for lots of developers at first glance.
16. Nothing particularly outlandish. So what is the problem?
17. This workaround solves the problem at hand, but could create further problems in the future.
18. Resolve testing issues and address deployment problems.
19. Brainstorming sessions about innovations or problem triage are better when more people are in the same room.
20. This article zeros in on the existing problems in the energy industry.
21. The word “problem” often trips us up.

30 Expressions to Substitute the Word “Problem”

1. Identify problems before they become production defects or security incidents → Identify issues before they become production defects or security incidents.
2. This is useful, but it has some problems → This is useful, but it comes with a serious downside.
3. Here are three problems with this solution → Here are three fundamental downsides to this solution.
4. Knowing where other developers have faced problems can help you prevent bugs in your own code and save you lots of time → Knowing where other developers have stumbled can help you prevent bugs in your own code and save you lots of time.
5. We allocate more resources until the problem is fixed → We allocate more resources until the trouble is fixed.
6. It may result in unexpected problems → It may result in unexpected outcomes.
7. We all know the problems with zombie subscriptions → “I am sure you have heard the scary stories about zombie subscriptions.”
8. This approach may be the most problematic one → This approach may be the most frustrating one.
9. A workaround for this is problematic → A workaround for this is a bit messier.
10. When one person in a meeting has a technical problem, it makes everyone less productive → When one person in a meeting is hampered by technology; it makes everyone less productive.

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