a challenging proposition

USAGE SUMMARY

"a challenging proposition" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when an idea or task is complex or difficult. For example, "This seminar will be a challenging proposition for students who have not taken a similar course before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

In their 2012 report, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology advocated "replacing standard science laboratory courses with discovery-based research courses"—a challenging proposition that presents practical and pedagogical difficulties.

CBE Life Sciences Education

In some ways the Mozart concerto was itself a challenging proposition.

The New York Times - Arts

Segmentation of the different feature based data in a dataset is a challenging proposition in the image processing community.

Applied Soft Computing

But while a love marriage may be a challenging proposition for Pakistan's conservative society, love itself is widely honored.

The New York Times

This is a challenging proposition that would see duplicate chunks of a huge index distributed between broadband-connected PCs.

The Guardian - Tech

"Criticizing President Obama is a challenging proposition in terms of ads because a lot of your swing voters this year voted for him in 2008," Mr. McCarthy said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"This is a more challenging proposition for Google, in a way, because Groupon is a local sales and marketing company," Mr. Sterling said.

The New York Times

Thus, targeting HIF-1α in an articular disorder such as RA remains a conceptually challenging proposition requiring considerably more experimental data.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In some cases, when a surfer clicks on an ad, the blog's author gets a share of the revenues.Even so, blogs are a more challenging proposition than search results.

The Economist

Naturally, such a realistic set-up would make transcript reconstruction a more challenging proposition.

Briefings in Bioinformatics

Rasmussen added that groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State "know we had become a much 'harder' target than at the time of 9/11 and that getting their operatives into the United States is an extremely challenging proposition". There is a greater risk of homegrown terrorism, he wrote.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a challenging proposition" when you want to convey that something is not easy but not necessarily impossible. It suggests that effort, skill, and careful consideration are required for success.

Common error

Avoid using "a challenging proposition" when the situation is clearly impossible or hopeless. The phrase implies a degree of feasibility, even if difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a challenging proposition" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object. It describes a task, idea, or situation that presents difficulties but is not necessarily insurmountable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a challenging proposition" is a versatile phrase used to describe something that requires considerable effort and skill but is achievable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various writing styles, from news articles to scientific papers. It's more common in News & Media and Scientific contexts. To use it effectively, ensure that the situation is indeed difficult but not impossible, and consider alternatives like "a difficult undertaking" or "a complex problem" for nuanced meaning. Avoid using it when the situation is hopeless or easily achievable. By understanding its nuances and applications, you can confidently incorporate "a challenging proposition" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult undertaking

Focuses on the effort and work required, emphasizing the practical challenges.

a complex problem

Highlights the intricate and multifaceted nature of the issue.

a demanding task

Emphasizes the high requirements and effort needed.

a formidable challenge

Stresses the significant difficulty and potential obstacles.

a tough assignment

Suggests a difficult task that requires resilience and effort.

an uphill battle

Implies a struggle against strong opposition or unfavorable circumstances.

a Herculean effort

Highlights the need for immense strength and determination.

a taxing endeavor

Focuses on the draining and burdensome nature of the task.

a knotty issue

Highlights the intricate and difficult-to-resolve nature of the problem.

a thorny question

Emphasizes the sensitive and potentially problematic aspects of the matter.

FAQs

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

You can use "a challenging proposition" to describe a task, idea, or situation that requires significant effort and skill. For example, "Replacing the old software system is "a challenging proposition", but it's necessary for our growth".

What are some alternatives to "a challenging proposition"?

Alternatives include "a difficult undertaking", "a complex problem", or "a demanding task", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a challenging proposition" in formal writing?

Yes, "a challenging proposition" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe something that requires significant effort and consideration.

What's the difference between "a challenging proposition" and "an impossible task"?

"A challenging proposition" implies that success is possible with effort and skill, while "an impossible task" suggests that the goal cannot be achieved regardless of effort.