a difficult example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult example" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an instance or case that presents challenges or complexities, often in educational or analytical contexts. Example: "In this lesson, we will analyze a difficult example to better understand the concept of advanced calculus."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A discrete time performance specification has been used to design a pole placement controller and its use illustrated with a difficult example.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

PPI U etz is a difficult example because, as can be seen in Table 1, it is a much sparser and much more incomplete network compared to the other PPI networks.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Ashley Madison hack is just a particularly difficult example of a much larger issue," said Dr. Sharlene Hesse-Biber, a sociologist and research ethics expert at Boston College.

Huffington Post

As expected, the classification of Marfan is not successfully assigned in the first instance as there were only 18 faces of individuals with Marfan in the database (making this an example of a difficult case with the current database).

eLife

Here we demonstrate the usefulness of EP rooting using a particularly difficult example: rooting a deep, three-taxon metazoan tree using only partial 18S rRNA sequences.

Genome Biology and Evolution

"It's a very difficult example to live up to".

The New Yorker

Prior probabilities provide a more difficult example of the ubiquity of initial presuppositions.

Princeton University

The DNA barcoding of subgroups of Hymenoptera presents a notoriously difficult example where poly-Ts are commonly found in regions of the Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) barcodes.

GigaScience

The method is illustrated using a simple, but difficult example, rooting the new animal phylogeny directly from short 18S rRNA sequences in the absence of outgroups.

Genome Biology and Evolution

In one difficult example with a runner on first and two outs, the batter hits a single but a defensive error allows an advance by the lead runner from second to third, and a soft run-scoring single is hit followed by an out.

Wikipedia

In this way, we combine the benefits of fine-grained supervision for difficult examples with the coverage of a large distantly supervised corpus.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a difficult example", ensure that the context clearly indicates why the example is considered difficult. Provide specific details or explanations to support this claim.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "a difficult example" without providing context. Instead, elaborate on the specific challenges or complexities involved to enhance understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult example" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "example". Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a difficult example" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that introduces a complex or challenging instance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and versatility across various contexts. It is particularly common in scientific, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it is best practice to provide context explaining the specific challenges involved. While alternatives like ""a challenging example"" or ""a complex example"" exist, "a difficult example" remains a straightforward and effective choice for conveying complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging example

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", suggesting the example requires effort and skill to understand.

a problematic example

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic", suggesting the example presents issues or complications.

a complex example

Replaces "difficult" with "complex", highlighting the intricate nature of the example.

a tough example

Replaces "difficult" with "tough", implying the example is robust but hard to deal with.

a rugged example

Uses "rugged" instead of "difficult", implying the example is tough to handle or analyze.

a troublesome example

Replaces "difficult" with "troublesome", indicating the example causes worry or difficulty.

a tricky example

Substitutes "difficult" with "tricky", suggesting the example is deceptive or requires careful handling.

a harsh example

Substitutes "difficult" with "harsh", indicating the example might be unpleasant or severe.

a rough example

Uses "rough" in place of "difficult", implying imperfections or incompleteness in the example.

a serious example

Substitutes "difficult" with "serious", highlighting the significance or gravity of the example.

FAQs

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

You can use "a difficult example" to introduce a case or instance that presents significant challenges or complexities. For instance, "The professor presented "a difficult example" to illustrate the intricacies of quantum physics".

What are some alternatives to "a difficult example"?

Alternatives include "a challenging example", "a complex example", or "a problematic example". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a difficult example" or "an example that is difficult"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "a difficult example" is more concise and often preferred for its directness. "An example that is difficult" is more descriptive but can sometimes sound less natural.

What's the difference between "a difficult example" and "a hard example"?

"Difficult" implies complexity and the need for skill or understanding, while "hard" often suggests effort or resistance. While similar, "difficult" is often preferred in formal contexts for its precision.