a formidable undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task or project that is challenging and requires significant effort or resources to accomplish. Example: "Building the new bridge was a formidable undertaking that took several years to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Getting people to draft advance directives is a formidable undertaking.

The New York Times

Balancing structural and acoustic performance of a multi-layered sandwich panel is a formidable undertaking.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The upkeep of the show between performances is a formidable undertaking.

The New York Times

For the casual reader, however, this can feel like a formidable undertaking.

The Guardian - Books

From the start, Mr. Kerry acknowledged that getting Israeli-Palestinian talks started would be a formidable undertaking.

The New York Times

The Ocean House alone was a formidable undertaking for Mr. Royce, who runs Royce & Associates, a mutual fund company in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Projecting NFL talent is a similarly formidable undertaking.

Huffington Post

However, MFD is a parametric hypothesis method from the statistic view, so the sensing performance is susceptible to the parameters' value setup; the determination of parameters' value is a much more formidable undertaking, and the accuracy of MFD may degrade significantly under time-variant multipath flat-fading (TVMFF) channels which are common in the next-generation communication systems.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The "TENEbrae" series was an even more formidable undertaking, one that in other hands might have been ill-advised.

The New Yorker

It proved to be a formidable and daunting undertaking.

The Guardian

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure) is a formidable procedure when undertaken for severe pancreaticoduodenal injury.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project, use "a formidable undertaking" to convey its demanding nature and the high level of resources or effort required.

Common error

Avoid using "a formidable undertaking" for simple or routine tasks. Reserve it for situations that genuinely present significant challenges or require substantial effort.

Linguistic Context

A formidable undertaking functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a verb. It describes a noun (the undertaking) with the adjective 'formidable', signifying something challenging or demanding. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is often used to describe complex projects or tasks that require significant effort.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a formidable undertaking" is a noun phrase used to describe tasks or projects that are challenging and require significant effort. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, it's best reserved for scenarios genuinely demanding, avoiding overuse in simpler situations. Related phrases include "a challenging endeavor" and "a daunting task". Therefore, use "a formidable undertaking" when you want to emphasize the demanding nature of a task, ensuring your writing accurately reflects the level of effort involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging endeavor

Replaces 'undertaking' with 'endeavor' and 'formidable' with 'challenging', focusing on the difficulty.

a daunting task

Uses 'daunting' to emphasize the intimidating aspect and 'task' as a more general term.

a Herculean task

Emphasizes the immense effort required, drawing a comparison to the labors of Hercules.

a monumental challenge

Highlights the significant scale and difficulty of the challenge.

a considerable project

Focuses on the substantial nature of the project, implying significant resources are needed.

a significant endeavor

Similar to "a challenging endeavor" but emphasizes the importance of the effort.

an uphill battle

Emphasizes the difficulty and resistance faced in the endeavor.

a tough assignment

Describes the undertaking as a difficult assigned duty or task.

a major operation

Highlights the scale and complexity, suggesting extensive planning and execution.

a complex operation

Focuses on the intricacy and multiple elements involved in the undertaking.

FAQs

How can I use "a formidable undertaking" in a sentence?

You can use "a formidable undertaking" to describe a task or project that is challenging and demands significant effort. For example: "Building the new research facility was "a formidable undertaking" that required years of planning and execution."

What are some alternatives to "a formidable undertaking"?

You can use alternatives like "a challenging endeavor", "a daunting task", or "a monumental challenge" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a formidable undertaking" in formal writing?

Yes, "a formidable undertaking" is suitable for formal writing as it conveys a sense of significant challenge and complexity in a professional and articulate manner.

What makes "a formidable undertaking" different from "a difficult task"?

"A formidable undertaking" suggests a task that is not only difficult but also requires significant resources, expertise, and determination to overcome. It implies a higher level of challenge compared to "a difficult task".