continually more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continually more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is becoming increasingly challenging over time. Example: "As the project progressed, it became continually more difficult to meet the deadlines due to unforeseen complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the next two decades (and over the course of two marriages) -- before the current conflict made travel in Algeria more difficult -- she shuttled continually between the two countries, as if between two halves of a long historical equation.

The New York Times - Books

Elizabeth Nash of the Guttmacher Institute said that state lawmakers who propose D&E bans often propose new abortion restrictions every year, meaning they continually need to find new ways to make abortions more difficult to obtain.

Vice

They are continually moving, making their identification as a source of infection more difficult because by the time an outbreak is detected and the causative L. pneumophila strains are characterized, these machines have usually moved to another location.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

By continually improving the existing way of doing business, they may actually make radical change more difficult.

The Economist

"As the campaign progressed," Morgan later wrote, "it became more difficult for us British at SHAEF to provide explanation, as we were continually called upon to do, for the attitude and behaviour of the British authorities as exemplified by their chosen representative in the field".

Wikipedia

Meat was more difficult.

The New York Times - Food

More difficult decisions".

The Economist

That is more difficult.

The Economist

Zone is more difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

But it is more difficult.

Independent

Ocean negotiates more difficult territory.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continually more difficult", ensure the context clearly indicates a process or situation that is becoming progressively challenging over time. For instance, "As the project progressed, debugging became continually more difficult due to the growing complexity of the codebase".

Common error

Avoid using "continually more difficult" when describing a situation that is difficult from the outset without a clear progression of increasing difficulty. It's more appropriate to say something is simply "very difficult" if the challenge doesn't increase over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continually more difficult" functions as an adverbial modifier describing how the difficulty of a situation or task is changing over time. It indicates a progressive increase in the level of challenge. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continually more difficult" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a situation or task becoming progressively challenging. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid expression. Although its frequency is relatively rare, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly indicates a progressive increase in difficulty over time. Alternatives include "increasingly challenging" and "progressively harder". While subtle differences may exist between these options, they generally serve the same communicative purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly challenging

Focuses on the rising level of challenge.

progressively harder

Highlights the gradual increase in difficulty.

ever more arduous

Emphasizes the increasing effort required.

steadily tougher

Implies a consistent and ongoing increase in toughness.

constantly more complex

Highlights the growing complexity of the situation.

incessantly more demanding

Focuses on the relentless increase in demands.

unceasingly more problematic

Stresses the continuous nature of the problems.

relentlessly more intricate

Highlights the increasing level of detail and complexity.

perpetually more taxing

Emphasizes the ongoing and exhausting nature of the difficulty.

ceaselessly more troublesome

Focuses on the unending nature of the trouble.

FAQs

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

Use "continually more difficult" to describe a situation or task where the level of difficulty is increasing over time. For example: "As the experiment continued, maintaining stable conditions became continually more difficult."

What are some alternatives to "continually more difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "increasingly challenging", "progressively harder", or "steadily tougher" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "constantly more difficult" instead of "continually more difficult"?

While "constantly more difficult" is understandable, "continually more difficult" emphasizes the ongoing and progressive nature of the increasing difficulty. "Constantly" might imply a difficulty that remains high without necessarily increasing.

What is the difference between "continually more difficult" and "increasingly difficult"?

"Continually more difficult" suggests a recurring or repeated increase in difficulty, while "increasingly difficult" simply indicates that something is becoming more challenging over time, without necessarily implying repetition. They are often interchangeable but may have subtle differences in specific contexts.