a difficult requirement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult requirement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a condition or expectation that is challenging to meet. Example: "The project has a difficult requirement that all team members must complete their tasks within a tight deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Now, instead of showing how the proposal will "contribute to enhancing parental/learner choice" - hardly a difficult requirement - applicants must merely "show they have taken account of the views of parents both in the school and in the community".

The Guardian

Besides making butanol straight off, Dr. Mullin wanted a microbe that could do it in the open air — a difficult requirement since all the candidates were anaerobic when they worked as gut microbes.

The New York Times - Science

This constraint can be a difficult requirement to meet in practice.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

This is usually a difficult requirement for most plants to confirm.

Safety and Security Review for the Process Industries Application of HAZOP, PHA and What-If Reviews

Previous work has indicated that matching microstrip probes to a sapphire resonator can be a difficult requirement.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

When Microsoft gave gamers their first look at its next Xbox in May, many video game enthusiasts were upset that the system would need to be connected to the Internet once a day in order to work properly -- a difficult requirement for members of the military and those who live in rural areas.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Roughly speaking, edge covering (and in general non-colorless tasks) is more difficult that graph convergence, because of a seemingly innocuous, but surprisingly "difficult" requirement: the simplicial decision map δ is color-preserving.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Smith and Co. may indeed have created a passable sequel to "Skyfall," but they cheated, skipping the most important and difficult requirement of the project: a reference to the Bond movie's title, "Spectre," is nowhere to be found in the song's lyrics.

The New Yorker

Physicians say it is the most difficult requirement to form a judgment on. 1 Doubts about the presence of unbearable suffering are also the most frequently mentioned reason given by physicians for refusing a request or feeling reluctant to grant a request. 2 8 Anecdotal evidence shows that patients whose request for euthanasia is refused feel that the physician did not understand their suffering.

British Medical Journal

Theirs are not the demands of vengeance, but the far more difficult requirement of healing and forgiveness and peace.

Huffington Post

These memo outlines, in essence, border a militarization plan that proposes inhumane triggers and prohibitively difficult requirements for legal work status.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a difficult requirement", ensure the context clearly explains why the requirement is challenging and what impact it has on the subject.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the difficulty of the requirement. Use specific examples to illustrate the challenges rather than relying on hyperbole.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult requirement" functions as a noun phrase, where 'difficult' modifies the noun 'requirement'. It describes the nature or quality of the requirement, indicating that it presents a challenge or obstacle. This is consistent with examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a difficult requirement" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to denote a condition or expectation that presents a significant challenge. Ludwig's analysis of various sources confirms this, identifying its frequent use in both news and scientific contexts. The phrase isn't exceptionally common, but its usage is consistent and clear. Alternatives like "a challenging requirement" or "a tough requirement" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When employing this phrase, it's important to provide sufficient context to elucidate the nature and implications of the difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging requirement

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the stimulating nature of the requirement.

a tough requirement

Substitutes "difficult" with "tough", highlighting the demanding nature of the requirement.

a stringent requirement

Uses "stringent" instead of "difficult", focusing on the strictness of the requirement.

a demanding requirement

Replaces "difficult" with "demanding", stressing the effort needed to meet the requirement.

a complex requirement

Uses "complex" instead of "difficult", highlighting the intricate nature of the requirement.

an arduous requirement

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous", emphasizing the laboriousness of the requirement.

a problematic requirement

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic", focusing on the issues associated with the requirement.

a tricky requirement

Uses "tricky" instead of "difficult", highlighting the skill needed to meet the requirement.

a rigorous requirement

Substitutes "difficult" with "rigorous", stressing the thoroughness of the requirement.

an onerous requirement

Replaces "difficult" with "onerous", focusing on the burden associated with the requirement.

FAQs

What does "a difficult requirement" mean?

The phrase "a difficult requirement" refers to a condition, specification, or expectation that presents a significant challenge to fulfill or achieve. It implies that meeting the requirement demands considerable effort, skill, or resources.

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

You can use alternatives like "a challenging requirement", "a tough requirement", or "a demanding requirement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "a difficult requirement" in a sentence?

You can use "a difficult requirement" to describe a specific aspect of a project, job, or situation that presents a significant hurdle. For example: "Meeting the deadline is a difficult requirement given the limited resources."

Is it better to say "a difficult requirement" or "a hard requirement"?

Both "difficult" and "hard" can be used, but "difficult" often implies a need for skill and problem-solving, while "hard" might suggest more effort or physical strength. In most contexts, they are interchangeable, but "difficult" might sound slightly more formal.