Proofreaders' Corner Vol. whatever

[Neige]

Question: Can you use the preposition "from" with "struggle"?

The following sentence sounds weird to my (non-native) ears.

Many low-income countries struggle from the inability to socially distance or work remotely.

What do you think?

[Jumper K]

Question: Can you use the preposition "from" with "struggle"?

The following sentence sounds weird to my (non-native) ears.

Many low-income countries struggle from the inability to socially distance or work remotely.

What do you think?

With scans better.

[JC]

struggle WITH...

[JC]

and you don't need 'inability', I'd say. Just 'struggle with working remotely' or something similar

[Charlie O.]

I think it's slightly unclear either way. I would change "from" to "due to" or "because of".

[Rorschach]

'from' is just wrong.

I think Charlie's 'due to' is best if you keep 'inability' in the sentence.
Solarskope's suggestion seems the more elegant to me.
I would consider: Many low-income countries struggle with social distancing and remote working.

[`]

I think it's slightly unclear either way. I would change "from" to "due to" or "because of".

But that totally changes the meaning of the sentence as it strongly suggests these countries' struggles with social distancing and working from home are a major cause of their larger issues which they plainly aren't.

Struggle with is simplest and best

[Neige]

I think it's slightly unclear either way. I would change "from" to "due to" or "because of".

But that totally changes the meaning of the sentence as it strongly suggests these countries' struggles with social distancing and working from home are a major cause of their larger issues which they plainly aren't.

Struggle with is simplest and best

I think you're right, there.

I'm going for "with", which was my hunch anyway!

Thanks all, you've been very helpful!!

[Charlie O.]

I think Rorschach's suggestion is the best.

[jimboo]

For a lot of folks covid is a bummer.
Sorted.