are not overly difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"are not overly difficult" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not too difficult to do or understand. Example: "The questions on this test are not overly difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The programs were not overly difficult.

Cornell University

Once this observation was made, the generalization to arbitrary d, n was not overly difficult.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

But on a day-to-day level, it's not overly difficult".

BBC

Access to this community of practice is not overly difficult, and changes in work-life practice are not rapid and revolutionary and thus do not constitute a barrier.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

"Hotel arrangements were monitored wherever we went, there were daily medical checks for my players and, while that is not overly difficult, it can impact on players' mental state".

BBC

Determining gene conservation across multiple genomes is not overly difficult, but certain choices must be made which will affect the final outcome.

BMC Genomics

The course wasn't overly difficult, just tricked up". Lee Westwood on his Chambers Bay experience: "It's the kind of course I'd like to come and play with my mates, with a cart and some beers". In a 15-minute rant, Billy Horschel, who carded a three-under 67, said: "We're not looking for perfect greens.

BBC

They are not overly talented.

The New York Times - Sports

We are not overly worried.

BBC

They are not overly packaged.

Los Angeles Times

Make sure you are not overly friendly.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the difficulty of a task or concept, use "are not overly difficult" to convey that it is manageable without being trivial. For increased clarity, briefly mention what makes it not overly difficult, such as readily available resources.

Common error

Avoid using "are not overly difficult" when something is genuinely challenging or deceptively simple. Be accurate in your assessment to maintain credibility. If something requires significant effort or skill, it's better to use terms like "moderately difficult" or "challenging but achievable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not overly difficult" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or noun phrase to indicate that the subject is manageable and does not present significant challenges. Although Ludwig has limited example data for this specific phrase, it is still a grammatically correct way of phrasing a sentence.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are not overly difficult" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is manageable and does not present significant challenges. Despite the limited examples found by Ludwig, its structure and components adhere to standard English grammar. It serves to reassure or inform an audience about the relative ease of a task or concept. Alternatives like "are not particularly challenging" or "are relatively straightforward" can provide variety in expression. Remember to be accurate in your assessment of difficulty to maintain credibility. Ludwig's analysis confirms its usability, although more examples would strengthen a definitive conclusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not so difficult

Removes "overly" while retaining the core meaning.

are not overly complex

Swaps "difficult" with "complex" emphasizing simplicity

are not particularly challenging

Replaces "overly difficult" with "particularly challenging", softening the assertion of difficulty.

are not too demanding

Substitutes "difficult" with "demanding", shifting the focus to the effort required.

are not excessively complicated

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated", highlighting a lack of complexity.

are relatively straightforward

Uses a different structure to express ease, replacing the negative formulation.

are not exceptionally hard

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult", with "exceptionally" adding emphasis.

are reasonably easy

Employs a positive framing with "easy" instead of avoiding difficulty.

are not unreasonably taxing

Replaces "difficult" with "taxing", focusing on the potential strain.

don't present major hurdles

Emphasizes the absence of significant obstacles instead of directly addressing difficulty.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are not overly difficult"?

You can use alternatives such as "are not particularly challenging", "are not too demanding", or "are relatively straightforward" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "are not overly difficult"?

Use "are not overly difficult" when you want to convey that something is manageable and doesn't require exceptional skill or effort. It's suitable when tasks are moderately easy or have readily available resources.

What is the difference between "are not overly difficult" and "are easy"?

"Are easy" suggests minimal effort, while "are not overly difficult" implies that some effort might be needed, but the task is still manageable. It suggests a level of simplicity above trivially easy.

Is "are not overly difficult" a formal or informal expression?

"Are not overly difficult" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider using more precise language depending on your intended audience.