a greater difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a greater difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing levels of difficulty in various contexts, such as tasks, challenges, or problems. Example: "Completing the project on time presented a greater difficulty than we initially anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

There is occasionally a greater difficulty with stretching muscles because of all the shivering.

The New York Times - Sports

Such limitations have their origins in common law, holding that as time passes, a person accused of a crime has a greater difficulty presenting an effective defense.

The New York Times

Research has shown that people with mental health problems are more likely to smoke cigarettes, more likely to be dependent on nicotine and have a greater difficulty quitting smoking than those without mental health problems.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Statutes of limitations have their origins in common law, holding, as a principle of fairness, that as time passes, a person accused of a crime has a greater difficulty presenting an effective courtroom defense.

The New York Times

In fact, Britons have worked in Swedish industries for decades, reasonably satisfied except for the high price of beer.The language barrier between northern and southern Europe is a greater difficulty.

The Economist

Perhaps a greater difficulty can be raised if we ask how Aristotle determines which emotions are governed by the doctrine of the mean.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

That was a great difficulty when I worked in Germany for six years.

The New Yorker

There's a great difficulty in bringing a true story about a character struggling with disease to the big screen.

The Guardian - Film

One of the better games I've played on the 3DS, with a great difficulty curve and lots of replayability.

The Guardian - Tech

There is a great difficulty in reaching a scientific consensus on defining a "planet" because this is not a scientific question.

The New York Times

Lamenting the sting of labouring "very hard and slowly at every sentence", he admits that he sometimes finds style "a great difficulty".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a greater difficulty", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity regarding the specific challenge being addressed.

Common error

Avoid using "a greater difficulty" in situations where a simpler term like "harder" or "more difficult" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a greater difficulty" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, it is used to indicate a heightened degree of challenge or complexity compared to something else. Ludwig examples show it frequently highlights challenges in problem-solving or adaptation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a greater difficulty" is a versatile phrase used to express a comparative level of challenge or complexity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and business writing. While effective, be mindful of its formality and avoid overuse in simple contexts. By understanding its function and purpose, you can use "a greater difficulty" to effectively convey the relative magnitude of challenges in your writing. Consider alternatives like "a more significant challenge" or "a tougher problem" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a more significant challenge

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the difficulty.

a more considerable obstacle

Highlights the obstructive nature of the difficulty.

a larger impediment

Focuses on the hindering effect of the difficulty.

a more substantial hurdle

Implies a barrier that needs to be overcome.

a tougher problem

Simplifies the expression to a more direct synonym.

a heightened struggle

Emphasizes the effort required to deal with the difficulty.

an increased hardship

Highlights the burden or suffering caused by the difficulty.

a more pronounced disadvantage

Focuses on the unfavorable position resulting from the difficulty.

a more acute complexity

Stresses the intricate nature of the difficulty.

a severer complication

Indicates a more serious or intricate issue.

FAQs

How can I use "a greater difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "a greater difficulty" to compare the level of challenge between two or more situations or tasks. For instance, "Solving this problem presented "a greater difficulty" than we anticipated."

What are some alternatives to "a greater difficulty"?

Alternatives include "a more significant challenge", "a more considerable obstacle", or "a tougher problem", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a great difficulty" instead of "a greater difficulty"?

While "a great difficulty" is grammatically correct, it expresses a high degree of difficulty, rather than comparing two levels of difficulty. "A greater difficulty" specifically implies a comparison to something else that is also difficult but to a lesser extent.

What's the difference between "a greater difficulty" and "a major difficulty"?

"A greater difficulty" implies a comparison of difficulty levels. "A major difficulty", on the other hand, denotes a significant or substantial difficulty without necessarily implying a comparison. It emphasizes the importance or severity of the difficulty itself.