arduous though

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arduous though" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a contrasting idea, often indicating that despite the difficulty of a task, something positive or noteworthy still exists. Example: "The project was arduous though, we managed to complete it ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Without a hold in New Guinea, the subsequent Allied advance, arduous though it was, would have been more difficult.

Wikipedia

As a result of his arduous though enlightening journey, and also working with so many others with extreme challenges, Steve has a different perspective of "what it takes" to overcome and succeed.

Huffington Post

For example, arduous though the task may be, perhaps editors of medical journals worldwide could strive to find areas of consensus regarding responses to violations of COI-disclosure policies.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

His most arduous adventures, though, were intellectual in nature.

The New Yorker

There's some dramatic conflict here – a sick father, an ostensibly disapproving mother, a terrible accident and an arduous recovery – though perhaps not quite enough to justify a conventional book musical.

The Guardian

One senses that Bispuri could have made an entire book from his short time in Mendoza prison, but instead he has chosen to chronicle his long and often arduous journey though 74 South American jails because, as he puts it, "prisons are a mirror of what is happening in a country, from small dramas to the great social and economic crises".

The Guardian - Arts

Last year's surprise No. 1, Hardwell, came after a string of successful singles and arduous touring, though it was widely understood that his team had mounted an aggressive social media campaign to dethrone fellow Dutch DJ van Buuren from the top spot. .

Vice

At around the same time, though, the arduous investigation into his father's death had begun to bear fruit.

The Guardian

These simple, though often arduous steps, allow Fried's drawings to bloom about their frames; landscapes transform into portraits, and portraits into still lifes in the blink of an eye, overlapping and eclipsing one another to progress from scene to scene.

Vice

Noble though raising standards of sustainable design sounds, doing so requires a long, arduous logistical slog, though that happens to be just the type of challenge at which Apple's new chief executive, Timothy D. Cook, excels.

The New York Times - Arts

Creating it was an arduous task, however (though not for Jones, who, according to Lipson, showed up for as many hours as the number of months he and Horn worked on the record: nine).

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "arduous though" to introduce a contrasting point that emphasizes the effort involved, creating a sense of resilience or unexpected outcome. For example, "Arduous though the climb was, the view from the summit was breathtaking."

Common error

Avoid using "arduous though" simply to describe something difficult without introducing a contrasting element or unexpected result. Ensure that the sentence structure clearly presents the difficulty as something that is overcome or balanced by another factor.

Linguistic Context

"Arduous though" functions as a concessive conjunction, introducing a clause that acknowledges the difficulty or strenuous nature of something. This sets up a contrast with the main clause, highlighting a surprising or unexpected outcome despite the hardship involved. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arduous though" functions as a grammatically correct concessive conjunction, typically found in neutral to formal contexts, used to introduce a contrast or unexpected outcome despite a challenging situation. Although its frequency is relatively rare, according to Ludwig it serves a valuable purpose in conveying resilience and highlighting outcomes that defy expectations. When using this phrase, ensure that the difficulty it describes is balanced by a contrasting element to avoid misuse. Alternatives such as "difficult as it may be" can offer similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult as it may be

Emphasizes the difficulty more directly than "arduous though".

challenging as it is

Uses a more contemporary term ("challenging") to convey difficulty.

though difficult

A more concise and direct way to express the same idea.

while being difficult

Focuses on the simultaneous existence of difficulty and another factor.

even if arduous

Implies a hypothetical scenario where something is difficult, but still happens.

despite its difficulty

Highlights the difficulty as something being overcome.

notwithstanding its arduous nature

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "despite its difficulty".

however arduous

Similar to "arduous though" but placing emphasis on how hard something is.

in spite of the difficulty

Emphasizes that something proceeds regardless of the difficulty involved.

with all its challenges

Highlights all the challenges something can imply.

FAQs

How can I use "arduous though" in a sentence?

Use "arduous though" to introduce a contrasting idea, highlighting that despite the difficulty of something, there is another noteworthy aspect. For instance, "Arduous though the task was, it was ultimately rewarding."

What are some alternatives to "arduous though"?

You can use alternatives such as "difficult as it may be", "challenging as it is", or "though difficult", depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it always necessary to include a contrasting element after using "arduous though"?

Yes, "arduous though" is a concessive phrase, meaning it introduces an idea that contrasts with or qualifies a previous statement. Failing to provide that contrasting element can leave the sentence incomplete or confusing.

What is the difference between "arduous though" and "despite the arduous nature"?

"Arduous though" is a more concise and slightly less formal way to introduce a contrast compared to "despite the arduous nature". The former is often used within a clause, while the latter can begin a sentence more naturally.