continue to be difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continue to be difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or person that remains challenging or problematic over time. Example: "Despite our efforts to resolve the issue, the project continues to be difficult due to unforeseen complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Their financial circumstances continue to be difficult.

Independent

"This is where the budgetary tradeoffs will continue to be difficult.

The New York Times

"But the negotiations in the future will continue to be difficult".

The Guardian

Finding executives guilty, SWAT team or not, will continue to be difficult.

The New York Times

But apparently, while rebus puzzles continue to be difficult to suss out for me, I am absolutely brilliant at whatever we should call the opposite of a rebus.

The New York Times

The allegations of bias – whether too English, or too left or rightwing - will continue to be difficult for the BBC in the runup to licence renewal.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Relations with Russia continued to be difficult.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It continues to be dangerous, it continues to be difficult," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

He went on: "The market continues to be difficult, there is no question.

The Guardian

"It continues to be difficult in our marketplace, but we continue to feel positive about the direction we are taking".

The New York Times

Despite the high rents, demand remains strong in part because it continues to be difficult to obtain a mortgage.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continue to be difficult", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is causing the ongoing difficulty. Be specific rather than vague to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "continue to be difficult" excessively in passive constructions. Instead, try to rephrase the sentence to highlight the active agent or cause of the difficulty. For instance, instead of saying "The project continues to be difficult due to unforeseen issues", consider saying "Unforeseen issues continue to make the project difficult."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to be difficult" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, indicating that a state or situation remains challenging or problematic over a period of time. As Ludwig AI suggests, it correctly expresses the ongoing nature of a difficulty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to be difficult" is used to describe situations that remain challenging over time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Although relatively rare in occurrence, it's primarily found in news, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase is neutrally registered and functions descriptively, conveying the persistence of problems. When employing the phrase, it's important to clearly specify the source of the ongoing difficulty and avoid overuse in passive constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain challenging

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the challenge but is slightly more formal.

persist in being tough

Highlights the enduring nature of the difficulty or toughness.

prove to be arduous

Indicates that something will consistently require significant effort.

carry on being problematic

Focuses on the continuous nature of causing problems or difficulties.

go on being complex

Stresses the enduring complicated nature of something.

stay tough

This is a shorter and more informal way to say that a situation will remain difficult.

endure in its difficulty

This emphasizes the difficulty as something that must be tolerated or faced over time.

hold to be trying

Suggests that something maintains its quality of being difficult and testing.

never get easier

Emphasizes the lack of improvement over time; a pessimistic view.

remain a struggle

Focuses on the continuous effort needed to overcome the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "continue to be difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "continue to be difficult" to describe situations or tasks that remain challenging over time. For example, "Negotiating the contract "continues to be difficult" due to differing priorities.".

What are some alternatives to "continue to be difficult"?

Some alternatives include "remain challenging", "persist in being tough", or "prove to be arduous", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "continue to be difficult" or "remains difficult"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "remains difficult" is often more concise. Use "continue to be difficult" when emphasizing the ongoing or prolonged nature of the difficulty.

Which is more appropriate, "continue to be difficult" or "continued to be difficult"?

"Continue to be difficult" implies an ongoing situation, whereas "continued to be difficult" implies that something was difficult in the past and remained so for a period. The choice depends on the context.