a difficult aspect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult aspect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a challenging or complex part of a topic, situation, or problem. Example: "One difficult aspect of learning a new language is mastering the pronunciation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Apparently it is a difficult aspect that signifies gridlock and conflict.

The Economist

"Sourcing is a difficult aspect for all designers big and small, and more efficiency in sourcing will streamline production processes.

The New York Times

"You have to be ready to have some pressure from your family about these issues.... It's a difficult aspect of our job, definitely".

Science Magazine

A difficult aspect for signal subspace decomposition based on such a sparse representation is to define the most appropriate criterion to identify the principal components (called atoms) from the learned dictionary to build the principal subspace.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

That's still a difficult aspect to mobile shopping today, which a number of companies are tackling, including PayPal with its new SDKs and One Touch product, as well as Google with Google Wallet, and Apple more recently with its Apple Pay for mobile apps.

TechCrunch

That's still a difficult aspect to mobile shopping today, which a number of companies are tackling, including PayPal with its new SDKs and One Touch product, as well as Google with Google Wallet, and Apple more recently with its Apple Pay for mobile apps.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

No one is pre-supposing innocence or guilt in Terry's case, instead it is a simple plea for the FA to exercise judgement, a very difficult aspect of leadership that does not always necessarily tally with precedents and certainly will not meet with universal acclaim.

Independent

Deciding to what cause or organization you should give money or time can be a surprisingly difficult aspect of philanthropy, even if you're not Bill or Melinda Gates.

The New York Times

It may represent the element in your life that aims to incorporate a more difficult aspect of (experience, perspective, feeling) rather than repress it, open up and question rather than close up and shut down, sweep under the rug and stuff back down the throat.

Huffington Post

End stage dementia is a particularly difficult aspect of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

BMC Palliative Care

This is a particularly difficult aspect since it requires the identification of specific events in all the data streams before a judgment can be reached as to the correlations and the timeliness of those events.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a difficult aspect", ensure that you clearly specify what makes the aspect challenging or problematic within the context. Provide specific details or examples to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid stating that something is "a difficult aspect" without explaining why. Readers need to understand the specific challenges involved, not just a general statement of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult aspect" functions as a noun phrase, where "difficult" modifies the noun "aspect". It serves to identify and characterize a particular element or feature as challenging or problematic. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a difficult aspect" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to denote a challenging or complex element within a given context. As shown by Ludwig, it is commonly found in science, news, and formal writing. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the reasons for the difficulty. Consider alternatives like "a challenging facet" or "a complex element" to refine the intended nuance. Remember to avoid overgeneralizing the difficulty without providing sufficient explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging facet

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "aspect" with "facet", maintaining the same meaning but with slightly different wording.

a complex element

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex", shifting the focus to intricacy rather than pure difficulty.

a problematic feature

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic", highlighting the potential issues or drawbacks of the aspect.

a tough component

Uses "tough" as a synonym for "difficult" and "component" for "aspect", suggesting a resilient challenge.

a trying element

Replaces "difficult" with "trying", emphasizing the aspect's ability to test one's patience or resolve.

a demanding characteristic

Substitutes "difficult" with "demanding", highlighting the high requirements associated with the aspect.

an arduous part

Replaces both words to express that the "part" implies a great deal of exertion or laboriousness.

a thorny issue

Uses a metaphor to describe the difficulty, implying a prickly or complex problem.

a vexing question

Replaces "difficult" with "vexing", suggesting the aspect is causing irritation or annoyance.

a hindrance

Simplifies the phrase to a single noun, focusing on the aspect's role as an obstacle or impediment.

FAQs

How can I use "a difficult aspect" in a sentence?

You can use "a difficult aspect" to describe a challenging part of a situation, task, or concept. For example, "One "difficult aspect" of learning to code is understanding recursion."

What are some alternatives to saying "a difficult aspect"?

Some alternatives include "a challenging facet", "a complex element", or "a problematic feature", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult aspect" or "challenging aspect"?

Both "difficult aspect" and "challenging aspect" are correct and acceptable. "Challenging" may sometimes imply a more positive connotation, suggesting an opportunity for growth, while "difficult" focuses more on the struggle.

What's the difference between "a difficult aspect" and "a difficult problem"?

"A difficult aspect" refers to a specific part or feature that is challenging, whereas "a difficult problem" refers to a broader issue that needs to be resolved. An aspect is a component; a problem is a situation.