an increased difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an increased difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a rise in the level of challenge or complexity in a particular situation or task. Example: "The new software update has resulted in an increased difficulty for users trying to navigate the interface."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

This may reflect a real winter increase in regional fat deposition, or an increased difficulty in obtaining an accurate estimate of regional adiposity in winter months.

BMC Veterinary Research

Another consequence of synaptic downscaling would be an increased difficulty in forming new mnesic traces.

Nature

But the number of surrogacy agreements has continued to rise, reflecting the desperation of many would-be parents to have children, as well as an increased difficulty of foreign adoptions, and same-sex couples seeking to create families.

The New York Times

As late summer winds blow smoke from last week's attack around the city, many people with asthma, or any history of the condition, have been complaining about an increased difficulty in breathing, some of them going to emergency rooms in hospitals around town.

The New York Times

Its presence imposes an immediate burden on landowners who face an increased difficulty in their ability to develop, and in the cost of developing, their land, should they wish to do so, because of the difficulties and expense of eradicating Japanese knotweed from affected land.

The Guardian

This might be due to the reason that at higher concentration of the fungicide, there is an increased difficulty to access the adsorption site (Nemeth et al. 2002).

Journal of Analytical Science and Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

A higher score on this scale describes a situation of increased difficulty in accessing health care services, while a lower score typifies less difficulty.

Global Health Action

An effect on motor output could be simply a consequence of increased difficulty in stopping when walking fast.

Nature

The decrease in the number of complexes as the number of subunits increase might be a reflection of the increased difficulty in assembling and thus evolving larger beneficial complexes.

BMC Genomics

The 35 standard items of the Watts Vernon Reading Test (sentence completion) was used at age 26 years to assess verbal ability, with an additional 10 items of increased difficulty to avoid a ceiling effect (maximum score = 45) [19].

Alzheimer's and Dementia

This risk may be partially attributable to increased difficulty following a diabetes-appropriate diet and increased emotional distress regarding capacity for successful diabetes self-management.

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an increased difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific task or situation is becoming more challenging. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an increased difficulty" without specifying the area or task where the difficulty is occurring. This can leave the reader wondering what exactly is becoming more difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an increased difficulty" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a rise in the level of challenge or complexity. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that the phrase "an increased difficulty" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, primarily functioning as a noun phrase to describe a rise in the level of challenge. According to Ludwig, it's correct and usable in written English. Its usage spans various contexts, including science, news, and academia, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to specify the context in which the difficulty has increased to maintain clarity. Alternatives like "a heightened challenge" or "a growing struggle" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Ludwig's examples highlight the phrase's applicability in diverse scenarios, reinforcing its legitimacy and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a heightened challenge

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'challenge' and 'increased' with 'heightened', emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

a greater impediment

Substitutes 'difficulty' with 'impediment', suggesting a more significant obstacle.

a growing struggle

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'struggle' and 'increased' with 'growing', highlighting the continuous effort required.

a rising complication

Changes 'difficulty' to 'complication', indicating a more complex problem that has emerged.

a worsened predicament

Shifts focus to the overall situation, using 'predicament' instead of 'difficulty' to suggest a problematic scenario.

a more complex task

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'complex task', focusing on the intricate nature of the work.

a harder situation

Substitutes 'increased difficulty' with a simpler, more direct expression of a tough situation.

a tough time

Uses a more informal expression to convey the experience of facing difficulty.

mounting complexity

Emphasizes the increasing intricacy rather than the difficulty itself.

escalating demands

Shifts the focus from the difficulty to the rising demands placed on someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "an increased difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "an increased difficulty" to describe a situation where something has become more challenging. For example: "The new software update has resulted in "an increased difficulty" for users trying to navigate the interface."

What can I say instead of "an increased difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "a heightened challenge", "a greater impediment", or "a growing struggle" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "increased difficulty"?

Yes, "increased difficulty" is grammatically correct and commonly used. The addition of the article "an" depends on the sentence structure. For example, "There is "an increased difficulty" in accessing healthcare services", versus "The "increased difficulty" of the task was evident".

What's the difference between "increased difficulty" and "a difficult situation"?

"Increased difficulty" specifically refers to a rise in the level of challenge, whereas "a difficult situation" describes a generally problematic scenario. While they can be related, ""increased difficulty"" implies a change or progression in challenge.