add to difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

"add to difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which an action or event makes an existing problem worse. Example sentence: "The rising cost of living adds to difficulties faced by many families."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The delay of the primary because of the World Trade Center attack may add to difficulties, the group said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The presence of Secret Service agents alongside Mr. Cain's own entourage could add to difficulty of moving around Iowa, New Hampshire and the other early-voting states.

The New York Times

The combined effect of variations added at different stages of the process are non-linear, sometimes unintentional, and adds to difficulties in prediction.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

The peace agreement has been broken many times, adding to difficulties faced by U.N. forces trying to stabilize the former French colony.

Huffington Post

On the negative side there are a number of factors that add to their difficulties.

Britannica

To add to his difficulties, the Polish government is on the brink of collapse.

The Economist

That result is certain to add to her difficulties raising money.

The New York Times

To add to the difficulties, the naval assault on Fort Donelson was easily repulsed.

The New York Times

This is no easy task against determined opponents.Jurisdictional quirks add to the difficulties.

The Economist

The burden is tremendous and the ambiguities of diagnosis can add to the difficulties.

Forbes

To add to their difficulties, the road conditions in these areas are not always well developed or maintained.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "add to difficulties", ensure the context clearly establishes the existing difficulties. This provides a foundation for understanding how the new element exacerbates the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "add to difficulties" without specifying what the initial difficulties are. This can leave the reader confused about the full impact of the added element.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "add to difficulties" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the act of increasing or worsening existing challenges or problems. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It signifies that something is exacerbating an already problematic situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "add to difficulties" is a versatile expression used to describe situations where an action or event makes an existing problem worse. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability in various writing styles. Its frequency is high across news, scientific, and general contexts, suggesting a broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the existing difficulties to enhance understanding. Alternatives such as "aggravate the problems" or "exacerbate the challenges" can be used to add variety to your writing. This phrase is suitable for neutral and formal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aggravate the problems

Focuses on making existing problems worse, highlighting the worsening aspect.

exacerbate the challenges

Emphasizes the intensification of existing challenges, suggesting a more severe increase in difficulty.

compound the issues

Highlights the accumulation of issues, suggesting that new problems are being added to existing ones.

worsen the situation

Indicates a general decline in the state of affairs, making things more difficult overall.

increase the complexity

Focuses on the rise in intricacy and complication, rather than just difficulty.

heighten the obstacles

Emphasizes the increase in the size or significance of existing obstacles.

magnify the troubles

Highlights the amplification of existing troubles, suggesting a more dramatic increase in difficulty.

intensify the hardships

Focuses on the strengthening or deepening of existing hardships.

contribute to the problems

Suggests involvement in creating or amplifying the problems.

build upon the difficulties

Emphasizes the incremental increase in difficulties, suggesting that new challenges are being added to existing ones in a cumulative way.

FAQs

How can I use "add to difficulties" in a sentence?

Use "add to difficulties" to explain how something is making a situation or problem worse. For instance, "The lack of funding will "add to difficulties" in completing the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "add to difficulties"?

You can use phrases like "aggravate the problems", "exacerbate the challenges", or "compound the issues" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "add to difficulties" or "add to the difficulties"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "add to the difficulties" is generally preferred when referring to specific, already mentioned difficulties. "Add to difficulties" is more general and can refer to difficulties in a broader sense.

What's the difference between "add to difficulties" and "contribute to difficulties"?

"Add to difficulties" implies making existing problems worse. "Contribute to difficulties" suggests playing a part in causing or increasing the problems, not necessarily worsening existing ones.