a difficult aim

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult aim" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a goal or objective that is challenging to achieve. Example: "Setting a difficult aim for the project can motivate the team to push their limits and strive for excellence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With pathology teaching hours having decreased over the years [ 3, 4] this is a difficult aim which requires fine planning.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

To accomplish this difficult aim, Nagata et al. (50) administered a JNK inhibitor SP600125 to rats and were able to suppress chemical hepatocarcinogenesis by shifting hepatocytic Smad3 signaling from the oncogenic pSmad3L pathway to the tumor-suppressive pSmad3C pathway [ Figure 4A (50)].

Carcinogenesis

The most difficult aim to achieve appeared to be the promotion of real collaborative knowledge building; the social arrangements of many designs still relied on rather individualistic ways of working.

Computers & Education

If you find this difficult, aim to be as generally emotionless as you can -- within the specific situation you're trying to appear mean/intimidating in -- might help with this.

WikiHow

Businesses thus face a difficult choice: aiming for good security or higher productivity, efficiency and convenience.

BBC

This isn't exactly an unfamiliar -- or a difficult -- target, but Spiotta's aim is exacting.

The New York Times - Books

Frustrated by continuing world conflict and the lack of commitment from the developed world to support the lofty but very difficult aims of the FAO, both Bruce and Orr resigned from the FAO disappointed by its modest gains and insufficient powers to alleviate world food problems.

Wikipedia

It is a difficult balancing act which aims to preserve the socialist edifice built by the Castro brothers while allowing the economy to take on some limited characteristics of traditional capitalism.

Independent

A major deterrent to expanding the use of renewable energy is the prohibitive capital cost.With support from the IMF and other multilateral institutions we have embarked on a difficult economic-reform programme aimed at putting the country's fiscal house in order.

The Economist

This article reports an amputation of the hook during a difficult selective intubation and aimed at calling the attention to complications associated with DLTs and the importance of fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

BMC Anesthesiology

Aiming at a difficult problem of the modeling and solving to the open domain of magnetic field, it is very important to reduce fact domain effectively.

Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a difficult aim", ensure the context clearly explains why the aim is challenging. Provide specific details or examples to illustrate the difficulties involved.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the difficulty of the aim to the point where it seems unattainable. While acknowledging the challenges is important, maintain a tone of realism and potential success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult aim" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "aim". It describes the nature of the goal or objective, indicating that it presents significant challenges. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a difficult aim" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a challenging goal or objective. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to consider the specific context and choose the most appropriate wording to convey the intended meaning. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the phrase appears across various domains, from news and media to science and general writing, indicating its versatility. Remember to provide sufficient context when using this phrase to clarify the specific nature of the difficulties involved. Consider alternative phrases like "a challenging objective" or "a demanding target" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging objective

Replaces 'difficult' with 'challenging' and 'aim' with 'objective', maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

a tough goal

Substitutes 'difficult' with 'tough' and 'aim' with 'goal', offering a slightly more informal tone.

a demanding target

Replaces 'difficult' with 'demanding' and 'aim' with 'target', emphasizing the effort required to achieve the objective.

an ambitious goal

Replaces 'difficult' with 'ambitious', highlighting the aspirational nature of the objective.

a problematic objective

Replaces 'difficult' with 'problematic', focusing on the potential issues associated with the aim.

a complex undertaking

Shifts the focus to the task itself being intricate, rather than simply the aim being difficult.

a formidable challenge

Emphasizes the scale of the difficulty, presenting it as a significant hurdle.

a herculean task

Uses a stronger, more figurative term to describe the difficulty, implying immense effort is needed.

a tall order

An idiomatic expression that conveys something is difficult to achieve or fulfill.

a Herculean endeavor

Similar to "a herculean task" but uses 'endeavor', which suggests a serious or determined effort.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a difficult aim" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a challenging objective", "a demanding target", or "an ambitious goal".

What are some common synonyms for "difficult" when describing an aim?

Common synonyms include “"challenging"”, “"tough"”, “"demanding"”, “"complex"”, and “"problematic"”, each subtly altering the nuance of the phrase.

Is it always appropriate to use "a difficult aim" in professional writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the specific context. In some cases, a more specific and descriptive phrase might be preferable to clearly articulate the nature of the challenge. For example, "a complex undertaking".

What's the difference between "a difficult aim" and "a challenging aim"?

The difference is subtle. "Difficult" emphasizes the struggle and potential for failure, while "challenging" highlights the stimulating and engaging nature of the aim, suggesting an opportunity for growth and achievement.