becomes more difficult to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "becomes more difficult to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or task that is increasingly challenging over time or under certain conditions. Example: "As the project progresses, it becomes more difficult to meet the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As you get higher in the American income distribution, it becomes more difficult to do that.

Princeton University

As the size goes down, it becomes more difficult to use synthetic materials in these applications.

Yale University

This is obviously undesirable, as it becomes more difficult to separate finer water droplets.

Chemical Engineering Science

Unfortunately, the task becomes more difficult to model ecosystems with limited data and knowledge.

Environmental Modelling & Software

With the greens in play, protectionism becomes more difficult to remove.

The Economist

"So it becomes more difficult to have the same level of access".

The New York Times

As racism becomes more difficult to explicitly identify, it becomes more impossible to challenge.

The New Yorker

Except that every day border demarcation becomes more difficult to accomplish.

The New York Times

With each passing day it becomes more difficult to believe they are alive, Ms. Moore said.

The New York Times

Against a quality player, it becomes more difficult to keep that level up.

The Guardian - Sport

In such an environment, "it becomes more difficult to do deals," Mr. Kernan said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becomes more difficult to" when you want to emphasize a gradual or progressive increase in the level of difficulty. It's suitable for describing processes, tasks, or situations that evolve over time.

Common error

Avoid using "becomes more difficult to" in situations where a more direct and active voice would be clearer and more impactful. For example, instead of "It becomes more difficult to understand the report", consider "Understanding the report becomes more challenging."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becomes more difficult to" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a progressive increase in the level of difficulty associated with a particular task or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase often connects a subject with an infinitive, indicating that something is increasingly challenging to accomplish.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "becomes more difficult to" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe an increasing level of challenge. Ludwig AI confirms it as correct and readily applicable across diverse contexts, spanning from academic research to everyday news. While alternatives exist to vary your writing, this phrase offers a clear and effective way to convey the notion of progressive difficulty. When utilizing it, be mindful of the potential for passive voice and prioritize clarity for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grows increasingly challenging to

Emphasizes the growing nature of the challenge.

becomes progressively harder to

Highlights the gradual increase in difficulty.

is getting tougher to

More informal and focuses on the increasing effort required.

presents a greater challenge to

Shifts the focus to the challenge itself rather than the difficulty.

poses increasing obstacles to

Emphasizes the obstacles that make something difficult.

is increasingly complex to

Highlights the increasing complexity as the reason for difficulty.

becomes ever more arduous to

Uses a more formal term, 'arduous', to describe the increasing difficulty.

is proving increasingly problematic to

Focuses on the problems that arise as something becomes more difficult.

it gets trickier to

Uses a less formal word ('trickier') to denote increased difficulty.

faces greater impediments to

Highlights the increasing impediments that hinder progress.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "becomes more difficult to"?

You can use alternatives like "grows increasingly challenging to", "becomes progressively harder to", or "is getting tougher to" depending on the context.

How to use "becomes more difficult to" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase to describe how a task, process, or situation is increasing in difficulty over time. For example: "As the project progresses, it "becomes more difficult to" meet the deadlines."

Which is correct, "becomes more difficult to" or "is becoming more difficult to"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "becomes more difficult to" suggests a general trend, while "is becoming more difficult to" emphasizes an ongoing process. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "becomes more difficult to" and "presents a greater challenge to"?

"Becomes more difficult to" focuses on the increasing level of difficulty, while "presents a greater challenge to" highlights the challenge itself. The former is more descriptive, while the latter is more active and emphasizes the impact.