a lot more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lot more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the difficulty of two or more tasks or situations, indicating that one is significantly harder than the other. Example: "Learning to play the piano is a lot more difficult than I initially thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A lot more difficult.

Cornell University

The odds are a lot more difficult".

The New York Times

For politicians, it's a lot more difficult.

The Guardian

The [Villarreal] defeat makes it a lot more difficult".

Independent

But borrowing has become a lot more difficult.

The Economist

But it's a lot more difficult to implement down there".

The New York Times - Sports

But sound systems get a lot more difficult than that.

The Economist

"It definitely makes all of this a lot more difficult.

The New York Times

"For my wife, it was a lot more difficult.

The New York Times

"Certainly it makes diplomacy a lot more difficult," he said.

The Washington Post

That work could soon become a lot more difficult.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lot more difficult" to clearly convey a significant increase in the level of challenge compared to something else. Ensure the context provides a clear comparison for effective communication.

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing "a lot more difficult" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "considerably more challenging" or "significantly more complex".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot more difficult" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something possesses a higher degree of difficulty when compared to something else. Ludwig AI shows that this comparative function is widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lot more difficult" is a commonly used and grammatically correct comparative adjective phrase that indicates a significant increase in the level of difficulty. According to Ludwig AI, it is found across various contexts, especially in news, academic, and scientific publications. While acceptable in most situations, writers should be mindful of its slight informality and consider alternatives like "considerably more challenging" or "significantly harder" for formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms the wide acceptance of this expression, underscoring its effectiveness in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Considerably more challenging

Emphasizes the increased challenge involved, providing a slightly more formal tone.

Significantly harder

Highlights the increased difficulty in a straightforward and easily understandable way.

Substantially more complex

Shifts the focus to the increased complexity rather than pure difficulty.

Much tougher

Offers a more informal and direct way to express the increased difficulty.

Far more arduous

Suggests the increased difficulty is due to the effort and stamina required.

Infinitely trickier

Indicates the increased difficulty lies in the potential for errors or missteps.

Appreciably more demanding

Stresses that the requirements and expectations are notably higher.

Notoriously more problematic

Highlights that the increased difficulty is widely known or expected.

A great deal more complicated

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the complex or intricate nature of the difficulty

A whole lot tougher

An informal and emphatic way to express increased difficulty, adding a casual tone.

FAQs

How can I use "a lot more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "a lot more difficult" to compare the difficulty of two tasks or situations. For example, "Solving this math problem is "a lot more difficult" than I thought".

What can I say instead of "a lot more difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "much more challenging", "significantly harder", or "considerably more complex depending on the context".

Which is correct, "a lot more difficult" or "much more difficult"?

Both "a lot more difficult" and "much more difficult" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. "A lot" is slightly more informal.

What's the difference between "a lot more difficult" and "slightly more difficult"?

"A lot more difficult" indicates a significant increase in difficulty, while "slightly more difficult" suggests a small or marginal increase. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to convey.