difficult and lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult and lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task, process, or situation that requires significant effort and time to complete. Example: "The project was difficult and lengthy, requiring months of research and collaboration to finish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

When this occurs, treatment may be difficult and lengthy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Reversing the effect is a difficult and lengthy process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Christian was instead a sensation, breezing through a difficult and lengthy solo.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Chernomyrdin said the Iran accord was the product of "difficult and lengthy talks".

The New York Times

A senior US administration official said negotiations will be "complicated, difficult and lengthy".

The Guardian

But Johnson & Johnson executives say that identifying the root cause of the problem was a difficult and lengthy process.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

I do not for a moment compare my condition to that of anyone who has a permanent disability or is experiencing a more difficult and lengthier recovery from major surgery, but these last few weeks have afforded me a glimpse of life from a different perspective.

The New York Times

Feisty unions and fussy governments make closing steel plants a difficult, expensive and lengthy process.

The Economist

Come to the hospital prepared to capture memories with your baby and to nurture yourself and your partner through a difficult and possibly lengthy delivery.

Huffington Post

In past, the most common method was an isolation of virus in cell cultures but it was difficult, time consuming and lengthy process that requires experienced technicians.

AMB Express

Complex and difficult to manage scenarios and lengthy exercise sessions contributed to the exercise becoming passive.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project or task, quantify the "difficult" aspect with specific challenges and the "lengthy" aspect with estimated time or resources required. This adds clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult and lengthy" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "tough and long" or "complicated and long" to maintain a more relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult and lengthy" primarily functions as a compound adjective. It modifies nouns, describing processes, tasks, or situations that are both challenging to execute and require a significant amount of time. Ludwig examples show its usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult and lengthy" serves as a compound adjective to describe tasks, processes, or situations requiring significant effort and time. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its grammatical correctness and usability in formal and neutral registers, with common usage in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. While effective, consider alternatives like "challenging and prolonged" or "complex and extensive" for nuanced emphasis. Remember to quantify the difficulty and length for clarity. Ludwig's examples highlight the phrase's versatility in describing a wide range of demanding scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging and prolonged

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "lengthy" with "prolonged", maintaining a similar level of formality.

arduous and protracted

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous" and "lengthy" with "protracted", suggesting a more burdensome and extended duration.

complex and extensive

Uses "complex" instead of "difficult" to emphasize intricacy, and "extensive" instead of "lengthy" to highlight broad scope.

demanding and time-consuming

Replaces "difficult" with "demanding" to stress the high effort required, and "lengthy" with "time-consuming" to focus on the duration.

laborious and extended

Employs "laborious" to highlight the effort involved and "extended" to emphasize the prolonged nature.

complicated and drawn-out

Uses "complicated" instead of "difficult" to suggest intricacy, and "drawn-out" instead of "lengthy" to indicate unnecessary prolongation.

troublesome and protracted

Replaces "difficult" with "troublesome" to imply problems and "lengthy" with "protracted", maintaining a similar level of formality.

grueling and prolonged

Substitutes "difficult" with "grueling" to suggest a physically or mentally exhausting experience, and "lengthy" with "prolonged", suggesting extended duration.

onerous and protracted

Uses "onerous" to highlight the burdensome nature, and "protracted" to emphasize the extended duration.

formidable and lengthy

Employs "formidable" to stress the intimidating aspect, retaining "lengthy" to emphasize the duration of the process.

FAQs

What does "difficult and lengthy" mean?

The phrase "difficult and lengthy" describes something that requires significant effort or skill to complete and takes a considerable amount of time.

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

You can use "difficult and lengthy" to describe various processes, tasks, or situations. For example: "The investigation was a "difficult and lengthy" process.".

What are some alternatives to "difficult and lengthy"?

Alternatives include "challenging and prolonged", "arduous and protracted", or "complex and extensive".

Is "difficult and lengthy" formal or informal?

"Difficult and lengthy" is suitable for formal and professional contexts, but may sound overly verbose in casual settings.