difficult and expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult and expensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task, project, or situation that requires significant effort and financial resources. Example: "The renovation of the historic building was both difficult and expensive, requiring skilled labor and high-quality materials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This proved very difficult and expensive.

The New Yorker

Remedying this situation is difficult and expensive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was difficult and expensive to restore.

The New Yorker

The steps are ridiculously difficult and expensive.

The New York Times

"Loveless" was difficult and expensive to make.

The New York Times - Arts

"It was very difficult and expensive.

The Guardian

Phosphate-based soil enrichers are somewhat more difficult and expensive.

The New York Times

Such efforts have turned out to be difficult and expensive.

The Economist

This has been difficult and expensive in the past.

The Economist

The trouble is that the process is difficult and expensive.

The New York Times - Science

Switching to a rival product was difficult and expensive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult and expensive", ensure that both aspects are equally relevant. If the primary issue is cost, consider emphasizing that aspect more. For example, if the situation is mostly expensive, say "prohibitively expensive".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult and expensive" repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "challenging and costly" or "complex and pricey" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult and expensive" functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun, describing something that presents challenges in terms of both effort and cost. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult and expensive" is a very common and grammatically correct compound adjective used to describe situations or tasks demanding both significant effort and financial investment. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "challenging and costly" exist, "difficult and expensive" clearly conveys a dual burden. When writing, ensure both aspects are equally relevant to avoid redundancy and consider varying your language to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging and costly

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "expensive" with "costly", offering a slightly more formal tone.

complex and pricey

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex" and "expensive" with "pricey", providing a less common but still understandable alternative.

demanding and unaffordable

Substitutes "difficult" with "demanding" and "expensive" with "unaffordable", emphasizing the high requirements and financial strain.

arduous and exorbitant

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous" and "expensive" with "exorbitant", increasing the intensity of both aspects.

trying and overpriced

Replaces "difficult" with "trying" and "expensive" with "overpriced", emphasizing the frustrating nature and inflated cost.

laborious and high-priced

Substitutes "difficult" with "laborious" and "expensive" with "high-priced", offering a more descriptive alternative.

elaborate and premium

Substitutes "difficult" with "elaborate" and "expensive" with "premium", focusing on the detailed nature and high quality.

complicated and high-end

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated" and "expensive" with "high-end", focusing on the complexity and premium quality.

troublesome and upscale

Replaces "difficult" with "troublesome" and "expensive" with "upscale", changing the focus slightly towards the inconvenience and premium nature.

formidable and extravagant

Substitutes "difficult" with "formidable" and "expensive" with "extravagant", suggesting a sense of awe and lavishness.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult and expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult and expensive" to describe a task, project, or situation that requires significant effort and financial resources. For example: "Renovating the old house was both "difficult and expensive"."

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult and expensive"?

Alternatives include "challenging and costly", "complex and pricey", or "arduous and exorbitant", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say something is both "difficult and expensive"?

While "difficult" and "expensive" describe different aspects, they often correlate. Using both emphasizes that the situation presents challenges in terms of both effort and financial resources, and it is not necessarily redundant. Consider if one aspect outweighs the other, and adjust your language accordingly.

What's the difference between "difficult and expensive" and "laborious and expensive"?

"Difficult and expensive" is a general term for something that requires effort and money. "Laborious and expensive" specifically implies that the effort involves a great deal of physical or mental work, in addition to the financial burden.