being difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

'being difficult' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is behaving in a challenging or awkward manner. Example sentence: After the disagreement, the negotiations became more difficult, with both sides being difficult.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He was just being difficult now.

The New Yorker

Or do you just enjoy being difficult?

The Guardian - Opinion

She acquired the reputation for being difficult.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But it's honestly not me being difficult.

The Guardian - Film

Time is short, and the author is being difficult.

The New Yorker

People perceive it as being difficult to learn.

The Guardian

So of course Google thinks the labels are being difficult.

The Guardian - Music

But that said, that's just me being difficult, as usual".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Professionally, she got a reputation for being difficult.

The Guardian - Film

If it sometimes means being difficult, then so be it.

The Guardian - Books

"Ladies, I'm not being difficult," he said at one point.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or task, use "being difficult" to convey that it presents challenges or requires extra effort. For instance, "Negotiating the contract was being difficult due to disagreements on key clauses."

Common error

Avoid using "being difficult" in situations where a simpler adjective like "hard" or "challenging" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Instead of saying "The test was being difficult", consider "The test was hard".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being difficult" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a subject complement or part of a longer verb phrase to describe a state or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being difficult" is a versatile gerund phrase used to describe something or someone as challenging or problematic. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" contexts. When using the phrase, consider alternatives like "presenting challenges" or "causing problems" depending on the desired nuance. Avoid overusing it in simplistic contexts where a simpler adjective would suffice. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proving troublesome

Emphasizes the inconvenience and annoyance caused, rather than the scale of the difficulty.

presenting challenges

Focuses on the challenges posed rather than the inherent difficulty, shifting emphasis from the entity causing the difficulty to the situation itself.

being recalcitrant

Indicates a defiance of authority or instruction, implying resistance.

causing problems

Highlights the problematic consequences of an action or situation, rather than focusing on the inherent difficulty.

acting obstinately

Focuses on stubbornness and resistance to change, rather than overall difficulty.

obstructing progress

Specifically implies hindering advancement or forward movement, suggesting a more active resistance.

posing an obstacle

Suggests a barrier that needs to be overcome, differing slightly from inherent difficulty.

remaining uncooperative

Highlights a lack of willingness to work with others, focusing on attitude rather than complexity.

evincing contrariness

Highlights a tendency to oppose or disagree, shifting emphasis to the active disagreement.

creating friction

Emphasizes the discord and tension resulting from interactions, rather than focusing on the difficulty itself.

FAQs

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

Use "being difficult" to describe a person, situation, or task that presents challenges or is hard to manage. For example, "The child was being difficult during the doctor's appointment."

What phrases are similar to "being difficult"?

Alternatives include "presenting challenges", "causing problems", or "proving troublesome", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "being difficult to" or "being difficult in"?

The phrase is typically followed by "to" when referring to an action or task (e.g., "being difficult to understand"). Using "in" is less common but could be appropriate depending on the context. For example: "He is being difficult in this situation".

What's the difference between "being difficult" and "seeming difficult"?

"Being difficult" implies that something actually presents challenges, while "seeming difficult" suggests that it only appears challenging but might not be. For example, "The problem is being difficult to solve" versus "The problem is seeming difficult at first glance".