awfully difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very challenging or hard to accomplish. Example: "The exam was awfully difficult, and many students struggled to finish it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I know it's been awfully difficult.

The Washington Post

Consensus is awfully difficult to achieve".

The New York Times

"The golf course was set up awfully difficult," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

To me, it looked awfully difficult, not to mention high.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's awfully difficult to get noticed, even when you are Martha Stewart," he said.

The New York Times

But this case, too, would have been awfully difficult to make.

The New York Times

It's also awfully difficult to protect this information while e-mail is in transit.

The New Yorker

This is a tantalizingly simple question that is awfully difficult to answer.

The New Yorker

JG : It's awfully difficult to reconcile yourself with your image at any age, I think.

The Guardian

"You can still get elected to countywide office without the Cuban vote, but it's awfully difficult".

The New York Times

"Old age is awfully difficult to explain," she said just before I left.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a task, use "awfully difficult" to convey the high degree of effort and skill required for success. This expression is suitable when you want to emphasize the challenging nature of something without sounding overly formal.

Common error

While "awfully difficult" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your descriptions by using synonyms like "extremely challenging" or "incredibly tough" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "awfully difficult" is to act as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a high degree of challenge or complexity. Ludwig examples show its common use in describing tasks, situations, or concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

15%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "awfully difficult" is a commonly used phrase to describe something that is very challenging. Analysis of Ludwig's examples demonstrates its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance in news and media, as well as academic writing. While slightly informal, the expression is broadly acceptable. To avoid repetition, consider using synonyms such as "extremely challenging" or "incredibly tough". According to Ludwig's AI, the expression is considered correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely challenging

Replaces "awfully" with "extremely" and "difficult" with "challenging", maintaining the same level of intensity but sounding slightly more formal.

incredibly tough

Substitutes "awfully" with "incredibly" and "difficult" with "tough", making the phrase slightly more informal.

exceptionally complicated

Replaces "awfully" with "exceptionally" and "difficult" with "complicated", emphasizing the complexity aspect of the difficulty.

remarkably arduous

Replaces "awfully" and "difficult" with more formal synonyms "remarkably" and "arduous" respectively, significantly increasing the formality of the phrase.

terribly demanding

Uses "terribly" as an intensifier and "demanding" in place of "difficult", focusing on the effort required.

exceedingly problematic

Substitutes "awfully" and "difficult" with "exceedingly" and "problematic", respectively, highlighting the troublesome nature of the subject.

fiendishly challenging

Uses "fiendishly" to intensify "challenging", suggesting a particularly wicked or devious level of difficulty.

highly intricate

Replaces "awfully difficult" with a phrase that emphasizes the complex and detailed nature of something.

singularly taxing

Replaces "awfully" and "difficult" with more formal synonyms "singularly" and "taxing" respectively, suggesting a heavy burden.

painstakingly intricate

Emphasizes the attention to detail and effort required due to the difficulty, by using the expression "painstakingly intricate".

FAQs

How can I use "awfully difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "awfully difficult" to describe tasks, situations, or concepts that are very challenging. For example, "The exam was awfully difficult" or "Navigating the bureaucracy proved awfully difficult".

What are some alternatives to "awfully difficult"?

Alternatives include "extremely challenging", "incredibly tough", or "remarkably arduous". The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.

Is "awfully difficult" formal or informal?

"Awfully difficult" is generally considered to be somewhat informal, but acceptable in most contexts. For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "exceedingly complex" or "remarkably arduous".

What makes something "awfully difficult"?

Something that is "awfully difficult" requires a significant amount of effort, skill, or perseverance to accomplish. It may involve complex steps, scarce resources, or unforeseen obstacles.