challenging to keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenging to keep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to maintain or manage over time. Example: "Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be quite challenging to keep in today's fast-paced environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The release team addresses the scalability issue by keeping the building stack as small as possible, however, it is challenging to keep the stack small.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Q: Is it challenging to keep up with what 15-year-olds are listening to?

The New York Times - Arts

We are finding it challenging to keep people here in Leeds rather than head to London.

The Guardian

To which we say yes, it can be challenging to keep a desk neat.

Harvard Business Review

She found it challenging to keep pace with the dance-based workout.

The Washington Post

It's challenging to keep up with the latest in racist tirades, so let's attempt a brief review.

The New Yorker

If your team gets too big, you may find it challenging to keep up with everyone's needs and progress.

The Washington Post

Optical coherence tomography continues to evolve at a fast pace, so it can be challenging to keep up with the latest information.

Stanford University

By Jeffrey Toobin April 29, 2014 It's challenging to keep up with the latest in racist tirades, so let's attempt a brief review.

The New Yorker

Challenges: "In the face of local workload pressures it is challenging to keep up international collaborations, but they are essential if one wants to create world-leading research".

The Guardian

While it can be challenging to keep kids on an educational track while living out of hotel rooms, it can be done.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "challenging to keep", ensure the context clearly defines what is difficult to maintain or preserve. Specify the object or state that presents the challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging to keep" without specifying what the challenge pertains to. Vague statements can diminish clarity. Instead of saying, "It's challenging to keep", specify, "It's challenging to keep the project on schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging to keep" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. Ludwig AI confirms that it describes the difficulty or demanding nature of maintaining something over time, as shown in many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "challenging to keep" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the difficulty of maintaining something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is most frequently found in news and media, science, and academic contexts. When writing, ensure you clearly specify what is difficult to maintain to avoid vagueness. Alternative phrases such as "difficult to maintain" or "hard to sustain" can be used to convey a similar meaning. The phrase's widespread usage and clear communicative purpose make it a valuable addition to any writer's repertoire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to maintain

Replaces "challenging" with a more common synonym, "difficult", focusing on the act of maintaining.

hard to sustain

Emphasizes the effort required for something to continue or endure.

tough to uphold

Highlights the difficulty in preserving or defending something.

not easy to preserve

Directly states the lack of ease in preserving something.

demanding to continue

Focuses on the demanding nature of ensuring something persists.

complex to perpetuate

Implies that the difficulty comes from the intricate nature of continuing something.

laborious to preserve

Stresses the effort required to maintain something in its original condition.

problematic to retain

Highlights the potential issues in keeping something.

awkward to sustain

Highlights an unhandy experience related to an action.

cumbersome to perpetuate

Implies that the difficulty comes from the intricacy of continuing something.

FAQs

What does "challenging to keep" mean?

The phrase "challenging to keep" refers to something that is difficult to maintain, preserve, or manage over a period of time. It implies that effort and attention are required to prevent it from deteriorating or being lost.

How can I use "challenging to keep" in a sentence?

You can use "challenging to keep" to describe anything that requires continuous effort to maintain. For example, "It's challenging to keep up with the latest trends in technology", or "Maintaining a positive attitude can be challenging to keep during difficult times".

What are some alternatives to "challenging to keep"?

Alternatives include phrases like "difficult to maintain", "hard to sustain", or "tough to uphold", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "challenging to keep up" the same as "challenging to keep"?

While similar, "challenging to keep up" specifically implies difficulty in staying abreast of something, like information or pace. "Challenging to keep", on the other hand, is broader and can refer to maintaining any state or object.