I was finding it difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was finding it difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a past experience where you encountered challenges or obstacles. Example: "During the exam, I was finding it difficult to concentrate due to the noise in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I was finding it difficult to breathe.

The Guardian

I was finding it difficult to manage my distress and still keep a responsible position at work.

The Guardian

Once, when I was finding it difficult to engage with writing and had asked for some help, a teacher said, "It's all right.

The Guardian - Opinion

We started talking about the French economist Thomas Piketty, and I said I was finding it difficult to read him in big chunks.

The Guardian

"The business was still very much about me, but we had started to grow quickly and I was finding it difficult to bring in the right people to look after the new clients," Hayward says.

The Guardian

A thick film of sweat had formed on my brow and I was finding it difficult to close my eyes for any meaningful amount of time.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I expected to find this journey challenging, however I am finding it difficult in different ways than what I expected.

BMC Women's Health

I am finding it difficult to connect the dots".

The New York Times

Unfortunately it is in US dollars and I am finding it difficult to cash.

The Guardian - Money

It's Saturday night and now I'm finding it difficult to concentrate.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm finding it difficult to learn at this stage of my life, though.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where you struggled, follow up with the actions you took to overcome it. This will create a more engaging and useful narrative.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "I was finding it difficult" in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "I struggled" or "I had a hard time" to keep your writing fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was finding it difficult" functions as a statement expressing a personal experience of hardship or challenge in the past. It is commonly used to describe a situation where the speaker encountered obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was finding it difficult" is a grammatically correct and neutrally registered expression used to describe a past experience of hardship. While not overly common, it appears across credible sources, including news outlets and personal narratives. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this expression. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "I struggled with it" or "It was challenging for me". Remember to vary your language to maintain engagement. As Ludwig's examples show, this phrase effectively conveys personal challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I struggled with it

Replaces "finding it difficult" with the simpler verb "struggled", indicating a direct experience of difficulty.

I had trouble with it

Similar to "had a hard time" but slightly more direct.

I had a hard time with it

Uses a more informal expression, "had a hard time", to convey the difficulty experienced.

I experienced difficulty with it

Replaces the verb "finding" with "experienced", making the sentence slightly more formal.

I was having problems with it

Uses the phrase "having problems" to express the difficulty.

It was challenging for me

Shifts the focus to the subject being challenging rather than the speaker's experience.

It presented challenges for me

Similar to "It was challenging for me" but uses the verb "presented".

I faced some obstacles

Replaces the general difficulty with the more specific idea of facing obstacles.

I couldn't manage it easily

Focuses on the inability to manage something without ease.

I encountered some setbacks

Similar to "I faced some obstacles" but uses the word "setbacks".

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to express "I was finding it difficult"?

You can use phrases like "I struggled with it", "I had a hard time with it", or "It was challenging for me" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was finding it difficult"?

Yes, "I was finding it difficult" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing experience of difficulty in the past.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "I was finding it difficult"?

Use "I was finding it difficult" when you want to describe a past situation in which you were experiencing a challenge or hardship. For example, "During the exam, "I was finding it difficult" to concentrate because of the noise".

What's the difference between "I found it difficult" and "I was finding it difficult"?

"I found it difficult" implies a completed action or realization, while "I was finding it difficult" suggests an ongoing experience of difficulty in the past. The latter emphasizes the process of experiencing the challenge.