a bigger difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bigger difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing levels of difficulty, indicating that one challenge is greater than another. Example: "The project presented a bigger difficulty than we initially anticipated, requiring more resources and time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A bigger difficulty is delivering basic education to the villages, to equip potential workers with the elementary literacy and other skills needed to leave the land.

The Economist

Rob Lynam, the head of press trading at the media buying and planning agency Mediaedge:cia, says that while Front's circulation is a problem, a bigger difficulty is the sector's slide into irrelevance.

The Guardian

The ISI's field officers, out in the hills of Pakistani Kashmir, may not be as willing as the general is said to be to end the bleeding of India.But a bigger difficulty is that the militants themselves are not fully under the control of even the ISI.

The Economist

But as well as the more clueless aspects of their tactics (witness Unison's Dave Prentis making a deeply clever appeal to middle Britain by citing such great popular touchstones as the general strike of 1926), the unions are held back by a bigger difficulty: the failure of the watershed moment into which we're being pushed to find any expression in the wider culture.

The Guardian - Opinion

Calculating this likelihood PDF presents a bigger difficulty.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That was a big difficulty".

The New York Times - Science

That reflects a big difficulty in e-government (and in writing about it): it touches on so many other things.

The Economist

Almost all in-patients were admitted voluntarily.High drop-out rates are a big difficulty in treating crack patients.

The Economist

"They just have the idea of having fun, making joy, and so that's a big difficulty," Ms. Focke said.

The New York Times

When I'm in a time of need, when there's a big difficulty in my life, I'll sell it and I'll use the money".

The Guardian

A big difficulty for schools is that the subject is taught by teachers from different disciplines, so suddenly a maths teacher might find themselves handling a debate on terrorism.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a bigger difficulty" to compare two or more challenges, highlighting that one is more substantial or problematic than the others. Ensure the context clearly establishes the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "a bigger difficulty" when there's no clear comparison being made. If you're simply describing a significant challenge without contrasting it with something else, opt for phrases like "a major challenge" or "a substantial problem" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bigger difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a challenge that is more significant than another. Examples from Ludwig show it being used to highlight greater challenges in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a bigger difficulty" is a grammatically sound expression used to highlight a more significant challenge in comparison to others. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. Its frequency is relatively rare, appearing primarily in news and media, and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure a clear comparison is established to effectively convey the intended meaning. For situations without a direct comparison, consider alternatives such as "a major challenge" or "a substantial problem". Overall, "a bigger difficulty" serves as a useful tool for emphasizing the relative magnitude of a particular problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a greater challenge

Emphasizes the challenging aspect, using "greater" to indicate a higher degree of difficulty.

a more significant obstacle

Highlights the obstructive nature of the difficulty, suggesting it's a notable impediment.

a major problem

Focuses on the problematic nature of the difficulty, implying it requires attention.

a considerable hurdle

Presents the difficulty as a barrier to overcome, using "hurdle" to suggest effort is needed.

a substantial impediment

Highlights the hindering effect of the difficulty, indicating it slows progress.

a tougher issue

Focuses on the challenging aspect of the difficulty, using "tougher" to indicate higher resistance.

a more complex complication

Emphasizes the intricate and involved nature of the difficulty, suggesting a layered problem.

a serious setback

Indicates the difficulty has caused a regression or delay in progress.

a demanding undertaking

Focuses on the effort required to manage the difficulty, implying a significant investment of resources.

a formidable challenge

Highlights the imposing and daunting nature of the difficulty, suggesting it requires significant skill and determination.

FAQs

How can I use "a bigger difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "a bigger difficulty" to emphasize that one problem is more challenging than another, as in, "While finding funding was hard, marketing the product proved "a bigger difficulty"".

What's a good alternative to "a bigger difficulty"?

Depending on the context, consider using phrases such as "a greater challenge", "a more significant obstacle", or "a major problem".

Is it correct to say "the bigger difficulty" instead of "a bigger difficulty"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "the bigger difficulty" implies you're referring to a specific difficulty already mentioned or understood in the context. "A bigger difficulty" introduces it more generally.

What is the difference between "a bigger difficulty" and "a major difficulty"?

"A bigger difficulty" directly compares the difficulty to something else, suggesting it's greater than another. "A major difficulty" emphasizes the significance or importance of the difficulty itself, without necessarily comparing it.