a formidable undertaking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable undertaking for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or project that is challenging or requires significant effort, often in relation to a specific person or group. Example: "Launching a new product in a competitive market is a formidable undertaking for any startup."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

Though the decision to present "Medea" was secondary to the wish of the two directors and stars to work together, the play has been a formidable undertaking for both teams.

The New York Times

A formidable undertaking for any curator, but it worked: From internationally collected artists to emerging talents, the narrative escaped the tiny and expected political box and pointed to the lovely and difficult infinities you would expect Art to do.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The richness and quantity of the food make it a formidable undertaking, scarcely ideal for a holiday where the main purpose was to take exercise.

The New York Times - Travel

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

The Guardian - Books

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

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

The New York Times

There followed gut renovation of the main house, a formidable undertaking that cost $250,000 and involved, among many tasks, the removal of many Dumpsters' worth of trash.

The New York Times

Yet Baca also knows that her role as culture minister championing the rights of Peru's marginalised indigenous people is a formidable undertaking.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a formidable undertaking for" to emphasize the significant challenge a particular person or group faces in completing a task.

Common error

Avoid using "formidable" too frequently in your writing. While it's a strong word, overuse can dilute its impact. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "challenging", "demanding", or "significant" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a formidable undertaking for" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, modifying a noun (the undertaking) and specifying who faces this challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, highlighting its role in describing significantly challenging tasks.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a formidable undertaking for" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that a specific task presents significant challenges for an individual or group. As Ludwig AI confirms, its proper application effectively emphasizes the magnitude of the task. While versatile, the phrase is most frequently found in news articles and science publications. When employing this phrase, writers should consider diversifying their vocabulary to avoid overuse of "formidable" and maintain the impact of their writing. By understanding the phrase's function, purpose, and register, you can confidently incorporate it into your writing to effectively communicate the degree of difficulty involved in a given undertaking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A significant challenge for

Replaces "formidable" with "significant", reducing the intensity of the challenge.

A major task for

Uses "major task" instead of "formidable undertaking", simplifying the wording.

A demanding project for

Substitutes "undertaking" with "project" and "formidable" with "demanding", altering the tone.

A considerable endeavor for

Employs "endeavor" for "undertaking" and "considerable" for "formidable", offering a more formal alternative.

A tough assignment for

Replaces "formidable undertaking" with "tough assignment", making it less formal.

A difficult job for

Uses "difficult job" instead of "formidable undertaking", simplifying the phrasing.

A complex mission for

Substitutes "undertaking" with "mission" and "formidable" with "complex", changing the context slightly.

A Herculean effort for

Employs "Herculean effort" for "formidable undertaking", intensifying the scale of the effort.

No small matter for

Replaces the entire phrase with a more understated expression of significance.

A weighty responsibility for

Shifts the focus to the responsibility aspect of the undertaking.

FAQs

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

This phrase is used to describe a task or project that presents significant challenges for someone. For example, "Launching a new business is "a formidable undertaking for" most entrepreneurs."

What are some alternatives to "a formidable undertaking for"?

You can use alternatives such as "a significant challenge for", "a major task for", or "a demanding project for" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a formidable undertaking for" or "a difficult task for"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a formidable undertaking for" emphasizes the scale and complexity of the task more strongly than "a difficult task for". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes something "a formidable undertaking for" someone?

A task becomes ""a formidable undertaking for"" someone when it requires significant resources, skills, and effort, and poses a considerable risk of failure or difficulty.