be challenging enough to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be challenging enough to" is correct and usable in written English.
You use it when you want to express that something is difficult enough to do or accomplish something. For example, "You should set goals that are challenging enough to help you reach your full potential."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

We all need goals to motivate us and these have to be challenging enough to excite us, but also achievable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"You want anything else?" The first lady demurred, saying it would be challenging enough to fit the pumpkins on the bus.

The New York Times

It should be challenging enough to make you stretch, but not so far that you break.

Huffington Post

It would be challenging enough to curtail the port's emissions if the port were not also growing.

Huffington Post

The report found that where students live still plays a large part in determining the likelihood that their school work will be challenging enough to prepare them for college.

The New York Times

Will it be challenging enough to inspire my ongoing engagement?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

For adults, it's challenging enough to sit through 20 or 30 minutes of speeches, but for 12- and 13-year-old kids, it's especially difficult".

The New York Times

Even with such help, there are still several European countries in which match-fixing is not a criminal offence, which complicates an investigation process that is challenging enough to start with.

Independent

Gamifiers try to capture that sense of engagement by providing rapid, continuous feedback, a clear sense of progression and goals that are challenging enough to maintain interest but not so hard as to put players off.

The Economist

By "this stuff," she means terrain that is challenging enough to fit under the standard definition of extreme skiing, first codified by the American steep-skiing pioneer Chris Landry: "If you fall, you die".

The New Yorker

It was challenging enough to live through the George W Bush years, in which a man with little experience and questionable leadership skills was called upon to confront great national and international trials.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting goals, ensure they "be challenging enough to" inspire progress but not so difficult as to cause discouragement. Find the right balance to maintain motivation.

Common error

Avoid assuming a task will "be challenging enough to" hold your interest without properly assessing its components. Start with smaller objectives to gauge your genuine engagement and adjust complexity as you proceed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be challenging enough to" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a required level of difficulty for achieving a specific outcome. Ludwig examples show it describing tasks, goals, or situations that need to possess a certain degree of complexity or difficulty to be effective or engaging. The Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be challenging enough to" is a versatile phrase used to express that a task or situation has sufficient difficulty to achieve a specific goal, maintain engagement, or prompt improvement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use across various contexts, including news, media, and scientific writing. While its register is generally neutral, its application ranges from formal goal-setting to describing everyday experiences, showing its adaptable nature. Remember to balance the level of challenge appropriately to avoid discouragement, ensuring it "be engaging enough to" inspire progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be difficult enough to

Replaces "challenging" with a more direct synonym, focusing solely on the difficulty aspect.

be tough enough to

Similar to "be difficult enough to", but implies a stronger, more resilient kind of difficulty.

be complicated enough to

Highlights the intricacies and interconnected parts that make something difficult.

be complex enough to

Highlights the intricacies and interconnected parts that make something difficult.

be complex enough to

Focuses on the intricacy of the task or situation rather than pure difficulty.

be formidable enough to

Suggests that something is impressive and potentially intimidating in its level of difficulty.

be ambitious enough to

Shifts the focus to the level of ambition required to achieve something.

be engaging enough to

Highlights the ability to maintain interest and attention, linking challenge to engagement.

be provocative enough to

Implies the challenge stems from causing discussion or thought.

be sensitive enough to

Changes the focus to a required level of precision or responsiveness, implying difficulty in achieving that sensitivity.

FAQs

How can I use "be challenging enough to" in a sentence?

You can use "be challenging enough to" when you want to express that something presents a level of difficulty sufficient to achieve a specific purpose. For instance, "The training program must "be challenging enough to" prepare the athletes for the competition".

What are some alternatives to "be challenging enough to"?

Alternatives include "be difficult enough to", "be tough enough to", or "be complex enough to" depending on the specific context and the type of challenge you are describing.

Is it better to say "challenging enough to be" or "be challenging enough to"?

The phrase "be challenging enough to" is more common and natural in English. "Challenging enough to be" is less frequently used and can sound awkward in many contexts. Sticking with "be challenging enough to" ensures clarity and fluency.

What does it mean when something is "challenging enough to" achieve a goal?

It means that the difficulty of the task or situation is sufficient to require effort and skill, ultimately leading to the desired outcome. It implies that without that level of difficulty, the goal might not "be engaging enough to" warrant dedicated effort or focused improvement.