consistently more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consistently more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is reliably harder over time or in comparison to something else. Example: "The math problems in this textbook are consistently more difficult than those in the previous edition."

✓ Grammatically correct

General

Academic

Professional

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

What the story of our long-running version of the two-state solution demonstrates about the United States is that our history has been consistently more difficult than we like to remember.

The New Yorker

There was some support for this tendency from the comparison of individual item facility values in the reading section where the 5-option items were noted to have been consistently more difficult than the 3-option items, although this was not found to be statistically significant.

Language Testing in Asia

The authors report that, in a number of follow-up studies, the effects remained small, but that the comparisons across modalities and modes were nevertheless consistently more difficult than the comparisons within the same modality and mode.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In both events, Gustafson consistently chose more difficult dives than the rest of her competition, and made them successfully most of the time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The problem with economic and rational arguments, unless they are crafted really well and consistently repeated, they are more difficult to get into the brains of a wide segment of voters.

Huffington Post

Although these patterns can be reliably and consistently identified, some are more difficult than others, notably papillary patterns [53].

European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

Experts, including those carrying out the review, have consistently warned that it is more difficult to identify cervical cancer correctly in younger women, leading to a danger that some will be treated and potentially harmed for a cancer they do not have.

The Guardian

She said one of the areas where it's more difficult to consistently perform well is the patient experience, which she said has been changing year to year.

Los Angeles Times

Free Music is surprisingly consistent, and consistently good, making me suspect the more difficult part of the ordeal will be our self-imposed rule of spending all of our time in one room.

Vice

The Nets find it more difficult to score consistently now that their attack -- a mixture of the Princeton offense and motion offense -- is not so original anymore.

The New York Times - Sports

Our findings for the LPDI showed consistently that tier 2 items are more difficult overall, so the second tier gives more evidence of student ability.

Asia-Pacific Science Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consistently more difficult" to highlight a trend or pattern where something is not just difficult, but reliably so. This emphasizes predictability or expected increase in challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "consistently more difficult" when a simpler term like "difficult" or "challenging" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a notable pattern or trend, not just describing a single instance of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consistently more difficult" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes something that possesses the quality of being more challenging or complex in a predictable or recurring manner. As Ludwig AI suggests, the examples show how it depicts a reliability of a challenging task.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "consistently more difficult" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing something that is reliably harder. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is often used in academic, scientific, and news contexts to highlight a trend or pattern of increased difficulty. While alternatives like "reliably harder" or "invariably tougher" exist, the choice depends on the desired nuance. To use it effectively, consider whether a simpler term would suffice or if the pattern of difficulty warrants the more descriptive phrase. Avoiding overuse in simple situations will help to keep it impactul.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reliably harder

Focuses on the dependability of the increased difficulty.

invariably tougher

Emphasizes the unchangeable aspect of the difficulty.

predictably challenging

Highlights the expected nature of the difficulty.

regularly more demanding

Stresses the recurring need for greater effort.

habitually trickier

Implies the difficulty is a customary occurrence.

persistently onerous

Underscores the ongoing burdensome nature of the situation.

steadily more complex

Indicates a gradual increase in complication.

chronically problematic

Suggests a long-term, recurring issue of difficulty.

incessantly taxing

Emphasizes the unremitting and draining nature of the difficulty.

increasingly arduous

Highlights the growing nature of the task being difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "consistently more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "consistently more difficult" to describe tasks, subjects, or situations that are reliably harder than others. For example, "The advanced level questions were "consistently more difficult" than the basic ones".

What are some alternatives to "consistently more difficult"?

Alternatives include "reliably harder", "invariably tougher", or "predictably challenging". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, if you want to express the predictability of the task being difficult you can use "predictably challenging" instead.

When is it appropriate to use "consistently more difficult" instead of just "difficult"?

Use "consistently more difficult" when you want to emphasize a pattern or trend of increasing difficulty. It is more suitable when describing something that becomes harder over time or in specific circumstances, as opposed to simply being hard in general.

Is "always more difficult" a suitable substitute for "consistently more difficult"?

"Always more difficult" can be a suitable substitute, but it implies a higher degree of certainty and lack of variation compared to "consistently more difficult". It suggests the difficulty is present in every instance, whereas "consistently" allows for slight variations.