daunting effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "daunting effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or undertaking that is intimidating or challenging due to its complexity or difficulty. Example: "Completing the marathon was a daunting effort, but I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was unclear, too, whether the daunting effort downtown would stretch the availability of construction workers.

The New York Times

Suing the president, particularly one who freely uses Twitter to attack businesses and executives, would be a daunting effort for any business owner.

The Washington Post

In quitting the Senate race last week, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani discovered that choosing a therapy for prostate cancer was a far more daunting effort than he had expected.

The New York Times - Health

The best way for the U.S. to contribute to that daunting effort right now is to encourage and assist the Pakistani military as it tries to roll back the Taliban (which the Pakistan Army succored and created) while simultaneously attempting to strengthen Pakistan's economy and its shaky power-sharing arrangements between the military and civilian politicians.

The New Yorker

In another sign of the Pentagon's growing recognition of the daunting effort ahead in Iraq, the Army said today that it had reversed its decision to close its Peacekeeping Institute in Carlisle, Pa., and was now looking to expand the institute to focus on stability operations like the Iraq mission.

The New York Times

In December, a staggering 1,302 potential panelists filled out questionnaires in Federal District Court in Manhattan in a daunting effort to pick a jury for the bombings trial, a legal marathon that is expected to last 9 or 10 months.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"If the situation in Libya isn't resolved, Tunisia will remain under attack," admits the 73-year-old leader, who is now personally involved in daunting efforts to bring about a political accord between Libya's two rival governments.

BBC

Back in June 1998, he came to Washington and picked up the dinner tab for 500 guests from the business and political communities, kicking off a daunting $44 million effort with a $2 million donation of his own.

The New York Times - Sports

It is daunting how much effort was required to dig out these discrepancies, and it's revealing that it required a truly independent review to find them.

The New York Times

"What we're seeing now is that the political prospects for repealing the Affordable Care Act are as daunting as the effort to pass national health reform," Larry Jacobs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, said in an interview.

The Washington Post

While the plethora of environmental disasters is daunting, a few efforts have been made at improving environmental behavior.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project or task, use "daunting effort" to convey a sense of the challenges and potential difficulties involved. This emphasizes the need for careful planning and significant resources.

Common error

Avoid using "daunting effort" in situations that are only mildly challenging. Save it for scenarios where the difficulty is truly significant to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "daunting effort" functions primarily as a descriptor, modifying the noun "effort" to indicate that the undertaking is challenging, intimidating, or overwhelming. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showcasing examples where it aptly describes tasks requiring considerable resources and determination.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "daunting effort" is a valid and useful phrase to describe undertakings that appear challenging or overwhelming. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct. Its usage is most common in news, science, and formal business contexts, reflecting a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, remember to reserve it for truly significant challenges to maintain its impact. Consider related phrases like "formidable task" or "challenging undertaking" for similar, yet slightly different, connotations. While its frequency is only uncommon, it's a valuable tool for accurately portraying difficult endeavors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intimidating endeavor

Replaces 'daunting' with 'intimidating', emphasizing the feeling of apprehension.

formidable task

Substitutes 'effort' with 'task', highlighting the work that needs to be done, and 'daunting' with 'formidable', suggesting a sense of challenge.

challenging undertaking

Uses 'challenging' instead of 'daunting', focusing on the difficulty involved, and 'undertaking' instead of 'effort', suggesting a formal project.

arduous task

Replaces "daunting" with "arduous" which emphasizes the difficulty and strenuous nature of the task.

onerous undertaking

Substitutes 'daunting' with 'onerous', indicating a heavy or burdensome nature of the undertaking.

Herculean task

Replaces "daunting" with "Herculean", emphasizing the immense difficulty, and requiring immense strength, courage, or effort.

demanding endeavor

Replaces "daunting" with "demanding" to stress the high requirements and intensity involved.

difficult assignment

Emphasizes the problematic nature of the effort, framing it as a specific piece of work.

uphill battle

Figurative language to describe a difficult effort as an uphill battle to win a goal or achieve something.

tall order

It's an idiom suggesting something is difficult to fulfill.

FAQs

How can I use "daunting effort" in a sentence?

You can use "daunting effort" to describe a task or undertaking that seems intimidating or difficult. For example, "Climbing Mount Everest was a "daunting effort", requiring months of preparation and immense physical strength."

What are some alternatives to "daunting effort"?

Alternatives include "formidable task", "challenging undertaking", or "intimidating endeavor". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "daunting effort" formal or informal?

"Daunting effort" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in professional, news, and academic writing. Consider your audience and the overall tone when deciding whether to use it.

What makes an effort "daunting"?

An effort is "daunting" when it appears difficult, overwhelming, or intimidating due to its complexity, size, or potential for failure. It suggests that the task requires significant resources, skill, and determination to complete successfully.