a difficult outcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult outcome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing results or consequences that are challenging or unfavorable in nature. Example: "The project faced numerous obstacles, leading to a difficult outcome that disappointed the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

JA: Where I see pressure that could lead to a difficult outcome is at McLaren.

BBC

Factors such as these, in addition to a bevy of other confounders such as access to high-quality medical care [23], are what make LE a difficult outcome to accurately predict.

Sports Medicine - Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That, I think, is a more difficult outcome to imagine.

The Economist

"Indeed, we believe that management would seek to maintain the dividend even in the event of a more difficult outcome than currently envisaged".

Forbes

This preponderance of third degree burn victims is a very difficult outcome for the emergency response communities of any nation.

Conflict and Health

I detected an underlying discomfort with naming such a specific and difficult outcome.

Harvard Business Review

This is why within medicine a minimal intervention (e.g., aspirin) that has a small (r =.034), but significant, effect in reducing a difficult to influence outcome (e.g., risk of future cardiovascular events) has important public health implications (Steering, 1988).

Health Psychology Review

Conversely, human judgment is favored when shielding is difficult, outcomes are ambiguous, and the possibilities are open-ended.

Harvard Business Review

Zhong Shan, China's new minister of commerce, was asked at a news conference during the National People's Congress annual session in early March which of two difficult outcomes he might prefer.

The New York Times

Development and progress are difficult outcomes to balance.

BBC

You should also focus on the positive outcome; a difficult situation is usually an opportunity to learn about yourself, and make positive changes.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a difficult outcome", consider whether a more specific adjective might better convey the nuance of the challenge. For example, instead of just "difficult", use adjectives like "unforeseen", "complex", or "negative" to add precision.

Common error

Avoid using "a difficult outcome" as a generic placeholder for negative results. Always provide specific details about what made the outcome difficult and its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult outcome" functions as a noun phrase, where "difficult" modifies the noun "outcome". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English, commonly used to describe results that are challenging or unfavorable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a difficult outcome" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase for describing a challenging or unfavorable result. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across diverse contexts. While the phrase is versatile, considering more specific adjectives can enhance precision. Common contexts include science, news, and formal business settings, indicating a neutral to professional register. To avoid vagueness, always provide context about the difficulties involved. Remember that, while often implying negativity, the context determines whether the outcome resulted from perseverance or led to an undesirable situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging result

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the outcome.

an unfavorable consequence

Substitutes "outcome" with "consequence" and "difficult" with "unfavorable", highlighting the negative aspect.

a problematic development

Uses "problematic" instead of "difficult" and "development" for "outcome", focusing on the troublesome nature of the event.

a tough situation

Employs "tough" to convey the difficulty and replaces "outcome" with "situation", shifting the focus to the overall circumstances.

a complicated scenario

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated" and "outcome" with "scenario", emphasizing the intricate and complex nature.

an arduous conclusion

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous" and "outcome" with "conclusion", stressing the laborious or strenuous aspect.

a trying circumstance

Uses "trying" instead of "difficult" and "circumstance" for "outcome", focusing on the testing or straining nature of the situation.

a demanding result

Replaces "difficult" with "demanding", highlighting the high requirements or efforts involved.

a severe predicament

Substitutes "difficult" with "severe" and "outcome" with "predicament", emphasizing the seriousness and challenging nature of the situation.

a grim prospect

Employs "grim" to convey the difficulty and replaces "outcome" with "prospect", shifting the focus to the discouraging nature of the future outlook.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a difficult outcome"?

You can use alternatives like "a challenging result", "an unfavorable consequence", or "a problematic development depending on the context".

How to use "a difficult outcome" in a sentence?

Use "a difficult outcome" to describe a result that involves considerable challenges or negative impacts. For example: "Despite their efforts, the negotiation resulted in a difficult outcome for both parties".

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

"A difficult outcome" implies complexity and challenge, suggesting the result was hard to achieve or manage, while "a simple outcome" suggests ease and straightforwardness.

Is it always negative to describe something as "a difficult outcome"?

While "a difficult outcome" often suggests a negative or undesirable result, it can also imply that the result, while challenging, was still achieved through perseverance. The negativity depends on the surrounding context.