a bit more tricky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bit more tricky" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is somewhat more difficult than expected or usual. Example: "The first part of the project was straightforward, but the second part is a bit more tricky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

"It's actually a bit more tricky.

Independent

Today things could get a bit more tricky.

The Guardian

"Gmail is sitting out in California and is a bit more tricky for UK legislation to cover it..

The Guardian - Tech

Giving up caffeine after the first morning coffee has been easier than expected, he has told friends, but "wine is proving a bit more tricky".

The Guardian

The decoder was a bit more tricky, since this involved taking in the signal and converting it into a form that could be later converted and process to Morse code.

Cornell University

Referring to another avian virus, one that since 2003 has decimated poultry stocks in Southeast Asia and killed more than 300 people, he said, "If a flock of chickens or ducks gets H5N1, it will kill them and set off alarm bells, but this virus seems to be a bit more tricky".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Big week: That's a little bit more tricky.

BBC

But come 19 00 GMT the BBC Sports Personality of the Year contenders will be revealed on the One Show on BBC One and it promises to be a little bit more tricky to predict.

BBC

Your neuro-vestibular system, you know your sense of balance, is a little bit more tricky.

Huffington Post

If you steal someone's data, decrypt it and that data is used to impersonate someone – and that data you are using to impersonate them is everything they know – the problem becomes a little bit more tricky.

Vice

We felt that the plot you suggested was a little bit more tricky to interpret.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and the overall tone of your writing. While "a bit more tricky" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "slightly more complex" or "somewhat more demanding".

Common error

While "a bit more tricky" is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Repeated use can make your writing sound less professional. Instead, vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "more complex" or "more challenging".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bit more tricky" functions as an adverbial modifier that qualifies the adjective "tricky". It indicates a comparative degree of difficulty beyond what is already implied or understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a bit more tricky" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a slight increase in difficulty or complexity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While suitable for various contexts, including news and general writing, formal academic or professional settings might benefit from using synonyms such as "slightly more challenging" or "more complex". It's important to consider the audience and tone of your writing to ensure the most appropriate expression is used. Frequent across news, wiki, and academia, this phrase serves to prepare the audience for a slightly elevated challenge. When using "a bit more tricky", confirm that the context makes clear what thing has previously been discussed as tricky.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly more challenging

Replaces "tricky" with "challenging" maintaining a similar connotation of difficulty but with a focus on the stimulating aspect of the task.

a little more complicated

Substitutes "tricky" with "complicated", emphasizing the intricate nature of the situation rather than its potential for deception or error.

somewhat more demanding

Replaces "a bit" with "somewhat", and "tricky" with "demanding", indicating a situation requiring more effort or skill.

marginally more complex

Uses "marginally" instead of "a bit", indicating a slight increase in complexity compared to the original situation.

a shade more intricate

Employs "a shade" and "intricate" to soften the sense of difficulty while highlighting the detailed nature of the task.

a touch more delicate

Replaces "tricky" with "delicate", suggesting that careful handling is required more than just skill or cleverness.

slightly more problematic

Focuses on the potential issues that may arise by using the word "problematic" instead of "tricky".

a notch more difficult

Replaces "a bit" with "a notch", and "tricky" with "difficult" showing a slightly higher degree of complexity.

a tad more convoluted

Uses "a tad" instead of "a bit", and "convoluted" instead of "tricky" to express complexity with a sense of being unnecessarily complicated.

somewhat more challenging

Replaces "a bit" with "somewhat" indicating an increase in required effort and replacing "tricky" with "challenging" putting emphasis on stimulating aspect.

FAQs

What does "a bit more tricky" mean?

The phrase "a bit more tricky" means that something is slightly more difficult, complicated, or challenging than something else that has already been established or implied as being tricky. It suggests a comparative level of difficulty.

How can I use "a bit more tricky" in a sentence?

You can use "a bit more tricky" to describe a task, situation, or problem that presents a moderate level of difficulty. For instance, "The first puzzle was easy, but this one is "a bit more tricky"".

What are some alternatives to saying "a bit more tricky"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly more challenging", "a little more complicated", or "somewhat more demanding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a bit more tricky" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a bit more tricky" is generally more suitable for informal or conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives such as "more complex" or "more challenging" to maintain a professional tone.