a complex undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

'a complex undertaking' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a task that is difficult or intricate. For example, "Building a house from scratch was a complex undertaking that took six months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Building the Higg Index is a complex undertaking, Kibbey says.

The Guardian

Assembling the exhibition has been a complex undertaking.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's a complex undertaking and complicated," Ms. Bresch said.

The New York Times

Even with those partners, Fruitvale Village was a complex undertaking for a novice developer.

The New York Times

Navigating the residential costs, which vary by institution, is also a complex undertaking.

The New York Times

Business can avoid legal entangling by being proactive, which doesn't have to be a complex undertaking.

The Guardian

But fostering these skills in a child is a complex undertaking.

The New York Times - Magazine

Often though, creating your own branching stories can be a complex undertaking; which is a where StoryNexus comes in.

The Guardian - Tech

Many experts doubt that H. naledi could have carried out such a complex undertaking with an orange-sized brain.

The New Yorker

It was a complex undertaking involving cutting, as well as laminating and tempering to create the safety-glass effect.

The New York Times

After all, analyzing thousands of patents is a complex undertaking and the future of smartphones is still rapidly evolving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a complex undertaking" when you want to emphasize that a task requires careful planning, expertise, and a significant amount of effort. For example: "Launching a new product line is often a complex undertaking." Be specific about why it's complex for greater impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a complex undertaking" as a generic statement. Always provide specific details about what makes the undertaking complex. Instead of saying "The project was a complex undertaking", explain which aspects were challenging and why.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complex undertaking" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "complex" modifies the noun "undertaking". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes a task or project that is intricate and demanding, often requiring significant effort and resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a complex undertaking" is a versatile phrase used to describe tasks requiring substantial effort, planning, and expertise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Science sources. When using this phrase, ensure you provide specific details about what makes the undertaking complex to avoid vagueness. Related phrases include "a difficult task" and "a challenging endeavor". Remember, Ludwig is here to help you refine your writing and ensure clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult task

Replaces "undertaking" with "task" and "complex" with "difficult", altering the specific noun and adjective while maintaining the core meaning.

a challenging endeavor

Substitutes "undertaking" with "endeavor" and "complex" with "challenging", changing both the noun and adjective but preserving the overall concept.

an intricate project

Replaces "undertaking" with "project" and "complex" with "intricate", modifying the specific noun and adjective to emphasize the detailed nature of the task.

a demanding assignment

Substitutes "undertaking" with "assignment" and "complex" with "demanding", shifting the focus to the effort required.

a complicated operation

Replaces "undertaking" with "operation" and "complex" with "complicated", altering the specific noun and adjective, suggesting a process with many steps.

a sophisticated exercise

Substitutes "undertaking" with "exercise" and "complex" with "sophisticated", connoting a higher level of skill or knowledge required.

a laborious process

Replaces "undertaking" with "process" and "complex" with "laborious", highlighting the effort and time involved.

a multifaceted activity

Substitutes "undertaking" with "activity" and "complex" with "multifaceted", emphasizing the multiple aspects or elements involved.

a convoluted affair

Replaces "undertaking" with "affair" and "complex" with "convoluted", suggesting a confusing or tangled situation.

a knotty problem

Substitutes "undertaking" with "problem" and "complex" with "knotty", indicating a difficult issue to resolve.

FAQs

How can I use "a complex undertaking" in a sentence?

You can use "a complex undertaking" to describe any task or project that requires significant effort, planning, and expertise. For example, "Developing a sustainable energy policy is "a complex undertaking" for any government".

What phrases are similar to "a complex undertaking"?

Similar phrases include "a difficult task", "a challenging endeavor", or "an intricate project", all suggesting a demanding or multifaceted task.

Is "a complex undertaking" formal or informal?

"A complex undertaking" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.

What makes "a complex undertaking" different from "a simple task"?

"A complex undertaking" implies a significant amount of planning, effort, and expertise, while "a simple task" requires minimal effort and can be completed quickly and easily. The key difference is the level of difficulty and the resources required.