already more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or task that has become increasingly challenging at a certain point in time. Example: "The project was already more difficult than we anticipated, requiring additional resources and time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"This crisis might shake the confidence of economic actors and lead to considerably slower growth in an already more difficult economic environment". The allegations of corruption, bribery and tender-rigging implicating members of the AKP call into question the party's claims to "purity" – the translation of the Turkish word "ak" – and government promises to end illicit practices and corruption.

The Guardian

"Especially when it's already more difficult to report sexual assault if you are a student from a variety of historically underserved backgrounds".

Huffington Post

This indicates that, in spite of all measures taken to control between stimulus materials, tongue-sound-initial items were already more difficult to process, thus being more sensitive to minimal TMS-elicited interference.

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"So many parts of the process are already much more difficult for first-generation applicants," she says.

The Guardian

The road to the World Cup has already got more difficult with the Olympic team's struggles (after losing to Honduras on Saturday the side now face a playoff against Colombia in Rio to qualify), and missing out on a Confederations Cup spot.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Vergara, 60, said the environment for taking photographs had already become more difficult -- in part because of the ubiquitous transportation authority signs and posters that state, "If you see something, say something". On several occasions, Mr. Vergara said, concerned passengers have accosted him for taking photographs, even though the practice has not yet been banned.

The New York Times

"It is already growing more difficult to go beyond the brittle shell of the official biography, to see Mandela's imperfections and contradictions — the details that make him human," Adam Roberts, a former Economist correspondent, wrote at Mandela's 90th birthday.

Los Angeles Times

But land transportation has already become more difficult due to melting of permafrost; ice highways used to transport industrial and mining equipment are now available for shorter periods each winter.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The army is already making life more difficult for them.

The Economist

A recent series of personal issues has made navigating her already complex life more difficult, close associates said.

The New York Times

Budget constraints brought on by the bad economy have already made it more difficult for Albany to bail out failing hospitals in the city.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience when choosing between "already more difficult" and alternatives like "increasingly challenging" or "becoming harder" for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "already more difficult" when a simpler phrase like "more difficult" or "harder" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already more difficult" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state or situation. Ludwig confirms the correct usage in various contexts. This usage is supported by examples illustrating scenarios that have escalated in complexity or challenge.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "already more difficult" is grammatically correct and serves to emphasize that a situation has become increasingly challenging. Ludwig confirms this correct usage. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is most commonly found in news and media sources. When writing, be mindful to use it in contexts where you want to stress the escalation of a challenge, and avoid overuse in simple situations where more straightforward language would suffice. Consider alternatives like "increasingly challenging" or "becoming harder" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly challenging

Focuses on the progressive increase in difficulty.

becoming harder

A more straightforward way of saying something is getting more difficult.

growing tougher

Emphasizes the increasing resilience required.

presenting greater obstacles

Highlights the challenges encountered.

proving more troublesome

Highlights the problems that are occurring.

more complicated now

Indicates an increase in complexity.

more arduous than before

Highlights the effort required.

tougher than expected

Emphasizes a deviation from initial expectations.

not as easy as it was

Underlines the change in ease.

posing more difficulties

Focuses on the emergence of difficulties.

FAQs

What does "already more difficult" mean?

The phrase "already more difficult" means that a situation or task was challenging before, and has now become even more so.

When should I use "already more difficult" in a sentence?

Use "already more difficult" when you want to emphasize that something was challenging to begin with and has further deteriorated. For example, "The project was "already more difficult" than anticipated."

What can I say instead of "already more difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "increasingly challenging", "becoming harder", or "growing tougher" depending on the context.

Is "already more difficult" grammatically correct?

Yes, "already more difficult" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.