becoming increasingly difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"becoming increasingly difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is becoming harder to manage or solve over time. For example, "The math problems are becoming increasingly difficult as the year progresses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

IT'S becoming increasingly difficult.

The Economist

This is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Economist

It's becoming increasingly difficult.

The Guardian - Tech

"Shaking this recession is becoming increasingly difficult".

The New York Times

Such encounters are becoming increasingly difficult.

The New York Times - Books

That challenge is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Guardian

College is becoming increasingly difficult to afford.

University of California, Berkeley

Securing employment is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Guardian

Paadar says herding is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Guardian

This was becoming increasingly difficult as the geometries became smaller.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, the apprenticeship model is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "becoming increasingly difficult", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the increased difficulty. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "becoming increasingly difficult" as a vague statement. Always follow it with a clear explanation of the factors contributing to the difficulty to maintain credibility and inform your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becoming increasingly difficult" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or gerund. It describes a state or activity that is progressing towards a higher degree of complexity or challenge. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "becoming increasingly difficult" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe situations that are progressively getting harder. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its prevalence across various domains, including news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, be sure to provide specific details about what is causing the increased difficulty to enhance clarity. Alternatives like "getting progressively harder" or "growing more challenging" can be used for variety, but "becoming increasingly difficult" remains a clear and effective choice in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

getting progressively harder

Replaces "becoming increasingly" with "getting progressively", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the difficulty.

growing more challenging

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging", suggesting a task that requires more effort and skill.

posing a greater challenge

Shifts the focus to the subject posing the challenge, rather than the difficulty itself.

turning into a greater struggle

Replaces "difficult" with "struggle", highlighting the effort required to overcome the challenge.

presenting more obstacles

Focuses on the increasing number of obstacles that make something difficult.

developing into a tougher task

Emphasizes the evolution of a task into one that is more demanding.

becoming a greater impediment

Highlights the hindering aspect of the difficulty, focusing on its role as an obstacle.

evolving into a more complex situation

Shifts the focus from simple difficulty to the complexity of the situation.

intensifying in difficulty

Focuses on the intensity of the difficulty, suggesting a rapidly increasing level of challenge.

proving to be a mounting concern

Highlights the growing worry associated with the increasing difficulty.

FAQs

What does "becoming increasingly difficult" mean?

The phrase "becoming increasingly difficult" describes a situation or task that is progressively getting harder to manage, solve, or accomplish over time.

How can I use "becoming increasingly difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "becoming increasingly difficult" to describe a growing challenge. For example: "Shaking this recession is "becoming increasingly difficult"."

What can I say instead of "becoming increasingly difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "getting progressively harder", "growing more challenging", or "posing a greater challenge" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "becoming more difficult" or "becoming increasingly difficult"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "becoming increasingly difficult" emphasizes the gradual and continuous nature of the difficulty. "Becoming more difficult" simply indicates a change in difficulty without specifying the progression.