a challenging method

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a challenging method" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a technique or approach that requires significant effort or skill to understand or implement. Example: "The researchers employed a challenging method to analyze the complex data set, which yielded insightful results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Field experimentation is a challenging method for analysing air flows due to limited number of measurement points, cost, unstable weather conditions, and experimental errors.

Biosystems Engineering

Hospital physicians also pointed out that they would prefer to pursue intervention through new programmes for hygiene, although they also recognise it to be a challenging method of improvement.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Genome complexity can be estimated by Cot analysis, which is a technically challenging method used in 86 published manuscripts prior to 1990 [27], but not in common use after the availability of massively parallel sequencing approaches.

Plosone

Laser capture microdissection is a technically challenging method due to the small amounts of tissue and the variability that may be introduced at various stages of the analytical process, compounded by the effects of working with post mortem human tissue, and the present work involved extensive optimization and validation of the methods prior to study commencement.

Plosone

Some of these reports employed a laborious and/or technically challenging method to identify or clone only one single amplified gene.

BMC Genomics

This method could be accomplished by either conducting a new clinical trial (a very expensive and ethically challenging method because ChEIs are considered to be the current standard of care in AD) or a retrospective post-hoc analysis of individual data from the 12 clinical trials that we included in our meta-analysis.

Clinical interventions in aging

Digital retinal imaging is a challenging screening method for which effective, robust and cost-effective approaches are still to be developed.

Brain Informatics

It is the most challenging method he can find to chase schools of fish.

The New York Times

An even more challenging method is to fill in the first "across" word, fill in the "down" word from the last letter of that word and complete the grid by adding the word that includes the last letter of each new word.

The New York Times - Magazine

One challenging method for increasing the performance of sedimentation tanks is to use baffles.

Scientia Iranica

The excellent detector performance established in this test validates the detector design and supports the feasibility of the proposed challenging method of luminosity measurement.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a method as challenging, specify the reasons why it is so, such as high cost, technical difficulty, or ethical considerations.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that a method is challenging without providing context. Explain the specific aspects that make it difficult to understand or implement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a challenging method" functions as a descriptive term, typically acting as a subject complement or an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It characterizes a particular approach or technique as demanding and requiring significant effort. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a challenging method" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a technique or approach that requires significant effort or skill. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. It's most commonly found in scientific and technical contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's best practice to specify why the method is challenging to provide more context for the reader. Alternatives include "a difficult technique" or "a demanding approach" depending on the specific aspect you wish to emphasize. Remember to avoid overgeneralizing the challenge without providing sufficient context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult technique

Focuses on the level of difficulty, using "difficult" instead of "challenging".

a demanding approach

Emphasizes the effort required, using "demanding" to highlight the intensity of the method.

a complex procedure

Highlights the intricacy of the method, using "complex" to indicate its multifaceted nature.

a problematic strategy

Focuses on the potential issues or obstacles associated with the method.

a rigorous methodology

Emphasizes the thoroughness and precision of the method.

a formidable process

Highlights the significant effort and skill needed to execute the method.

an intricate system

Focuses on the complexity and interconnectedness of the method.

a sophisticated technique

Emphasizes the advanced and refined nature of the method.

an arduous task

Highlights the labor-intensive nature of the method.

a testing strategy

Focuses on the evaluative nature and potential difficulties of the method.

FAQs

How can I use "a challenging method" in a sentence?

You can use "a challenging method" to describe a technique or approach that requires significant effort or skill. For example: "The researchers employed "a challenging method" to analyze the complex data set."

What are some alternatives to "a challenging method"?

Alternatives include "a difficult technique", "a demanding approach", or "a complex procedure", depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

When is it appropriate to describe something as "a challenging method"?

It is appropriate when the technique or approach requires considerable effort, skill, or resources to execute successfully. This could be due to technical complexities, ethical considerations, or practical limitations.

What makes "a challenging method" different from "a simple method"?

"A challenging method" implies that the technique involves significant difficulties and complexities, whereas "a simple method" suggests that the technique is straightforward and easy to implement.