cognitively demanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"cognitively demanding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe tasks or activities that require a lot of mental effort or attention. Example: The final exam for my psychology class was incredibly cognitively demanding, as we had to analyze multiple case studies and apply various theories to them in a short amount of time.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To investigate differential effects of inflammation on cognitively demanding versus less-demanding tasks, we examined the interaction between inflammation and cognitive demand.

Biological Psychiatry

Furthermore, a cognitive consolidation mechanism underlying a cognitively demanding technique like mental practice would significantly diminish its applied value.

Brain

But the skills can be cognitively demanding.

The New York Times - Books

In cognitively demanding fields, there are no naturals.

The New Yorker

"You need skilled teachers to prepare work that is cognitively demanding but isn't too linguistically demanding".

The Guardian

"We can chew gum and walk, but we can't do two cognitively demanding tasks simultaneously".

The New York Times

"If the task is simple, mechanical and straightforward it can be beneficial - but the more cognitively demanding, the more distracting music is," he says.

The Guardian - Money

Time-consuming, cognitively demanding, and ultimately clumsy, the novel has few mysteries to open for Perowne, even if he respects its fading cultural authority.

The New Yorker

But Seery made a point I heard from many others: awareness tools aren't as cognitively demanding as an e-mail message.

The New York Times - Magazine

Participation in clinical addiction research can be cognitively demanding.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Achievement tests such as PISA are cognitively demanding and are often understood as measures of ability.

Journal for Labour Market Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a task, use "cognitively demanding" to highlight the significant mental effort involved. This phrase accurately conveys the need for focus and mental resources.

Common error

Avoid using "cognitively demanding" for tasks that are obviously simple or routine. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cognitively demanding" functions as an adjectival phrase, typically modifying a noun to describe tasks or activities that require significant mental effort. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct, with numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cognitively demanding" is a grammatically correct and widely used adjectival phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It describes tasks or activities that require significant mental effort. Predominantly found in scientific and news sources, the phrase effectively conveys the need for focus and mental resources. When using "cognitively demanding", it's best to avoid overuse in simple contexts to maintain its impact. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various academic, professional, and general contexts, showcasing its versatility and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentally challenging

Focuses on the stimulating aspect of the task requiring mental effort.

intellectually stimulating

Highlights the aspect of engaging the intellect and promoting thought.

mentally taxing

Emphasizes the depleting effect on mental resources.

brain-intensive

Informal way to denote a process that requires a high degree of mental processing.

intellectually rigorous

Highlights the need for precise and careful thinking.

academically challenging

Specifically related to academic environments; highlights the difficulty level of the task.

computationally intensive

Refers specifically to tasks requiring a large amount of computation or processing.

thought-provoking

Focuses on stimulating deeper thought and reflection.

effortful thinking

Highlights the active and deliberate application of mental effort.

high mental workload

Focuses on the amount of mental effort the task requires.

FAQs

How can I use "cognitively demanding" in a sentence?

You can say "The project was "cognitively demanding", requiring intense focus and problem-solving skills".

What are some alternatives to "cognitively demanding"?

Some alternatives include "mentally challenging", "intellectually stimulating", or "mentally taxing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "cognitive demanding" instead of "cognitively demanding"?

No, the correct phrase is ""cognitively demanding"". The adverb 'cognitively' modifies the adjective 'demanding', indicating how the task is demanding.

What's the difference between "cognitively demanding" and "intellectually demanding"?

While similar, ""cognitively demanding"" generally refers to tasks requiring focused mental processes and attention, while "intellectually demanding" implies a need for higher-level reasoning and comprehension.