a difficult change

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult change" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a change that is challenging or hard to adapt to, often in personal, professional, or social contexts. Example: "Adjusting to remote work was a difficult change for many employees during the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"That's a difficult change".

The New York Times

In an interview with Ballet Magazine in 2005, Wall said: "It was a difficult change.

Independent

It will also need to get more women into the work force while at the same time encouraging them to have more children, a difficult change for a country that has long glorified stay-at-home mothers.

The New York Times

Instead of providing a seamless link to Europe, at best travellers from the north and Midlands who wish to go on to cross the Channel will be faced with a difficult change involving dragging their baggage along the Euston Road to the HS1 terminus at St Pancras.

The Guardian

"But it's a difficult change".

Forbes

My own style of play tends to favour military victories, accomplished through quick colonization and conquering, so this proved a difficult change to get used to.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It is an essential move that needs to be led by the general public and donors: say no to sensationalism, look at what is really happening and the complexity of issues involved, be interested and not just emotionally driven... this is a very difficult change in behavior.

Huffington Post

Ms. Stanton's transformation from a young Christian seeker into a Jewish spiritual leader spans an era of sometimes difficult change, for herself and for her chosen religion.

The New York Times

Ultimately, while compromise and mutual benefit is ideal, there are times when a systemic solution will require fundamental, difficult change from a single actor.

The Guardian

But she said that his primary role, in a time of rapid and difficult change for the media, would be as "someone to look to, to understand the landscape and make sense of what's going on".

The New York Times

"It is about a difficult political change between the generation that has been there for 50 years and the young generation," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a significant change, specify which aspects are "a difficult change". For example, instead of saying "The change was difficult", specify what made it so: "The shift to remote work was "a difficult change" because it required new communication strategies".

Common error

Avoid using "a difficult change" as a vague statement without specifying the context or reasons for the difficulty. Always provide concrete details about what makes the change challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult change" functions as a noun phrase, where "difficult" is an adjective modifying the noun "change". It typically acts as the subject, object, or complement of a verb, denoting something has altered with considerable effort or struggle. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, from personal transitions to broad societal shifts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a difficult change" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a challenging transition or alteration. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for a wide variety of contexts, but is most prevalent in news and media, and scientific writing. To enhance clarity and specificity, it is best practice to provide context by specifying the elements of the change that are causing difficulty. While alternatives like "a challenging transition" or "a tough adjustment" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance the writer aims to convey. Therefore, ensuring the context and reasons for the hardship are clear when using the phrase "a difficult change" is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging transition

Focuses on the transitional aspect and its inherent challenges.

a tough adjustment

Emphasizes the effort required to adapt to the change.

a problematic shift

Highlights the potential issues arising from the change.

a demanding alteration

Stresses the high requirements or effort involved in the change.

a complex transformation

Implies a multifaceted and intricate change process.

an arduous modification

Highlights the laborious and challenging nature of the change.

a trying adaptation

Focuses on the stressful or difficult nature of adapting to the change.

a painful evolution

Suggests that the change involves suffering or difficulty.

a steep learning curve

Highlights the difficulty in rapidly acquiring new knowledge or skills.

an uphill battle

Emphasizes the resistance or obstacles encountered during the change.

FAQs

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

Use "a difficult change" to describe a transition that presents significant challenges. For example: "Retraining for a new career after years in another field can be "a difficult change"".

What are some alternatives to "a difficult change"?

You can use alternatives like "a challenging transition", "a tough adjustment", or "a problematic shift" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a difficult change" or "a challenging change"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a challenging change" often implies an opportunity for growth, while ""a difficult change"" focuses more on the hardship involved. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What makes "a difficult change" different from "a simple change"?

"A difficult change" involves significant obstacles, effort, or adaptation, while "a simple change" is easily implemented and requires minimal adjustment.