difficult as it may have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult as it may have" is not correct in English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and should be followed by a clearer context or completion. Example: "Difficult as it may have been, we managed to complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The decline of the horse and buggy, difficult as it may have been for people in the business, created no macroeconomic problems.

The New York Times

That decision, difficult as it may have been, helped lay the foundation for transforming a paternalistic company into a globally ambitious group willing to embrace new technologies and modern management strategies.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This might have been one of the more stunning demonstrations of what the Ara project could potentially offer, as it may have been difficult for the average device user to grasp the true power of a modular mobile device with replaceable parts.

TechCrunch

As well, it may have legal use.

WikiHow

As a result, it may have been difficult for them to value this lifestyle program as offered within a health care setting.

BMC Public Health

As anticipated, the main pancreatic duct was invisible, and it may have been difficult to close or anastomose the main pancreatic duct by an ordinary procedure.

Surgical Case Reports

It may have been difficult at the time, but Mitchard realizes how much those moments opened her up as well. .

Huffington Post

"As the Bank of England is now learning, it may have to extend that horizon somewhat in particularly difficult circumstances.

Huffington Post

It may have been the most difficult conversation I've ever had.

Huffington Post

As difficult as it may be, we now have to wrap our heads around Calculus.

Huffington Post

Difficult as it may be to accept (for sure, I have trouble), our opinions on almost everything are little more than snap judgments, not to be taken too seriously.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using a concessive phrase, ensure the main clause provides a clear contrast or outcome despite the acknowledged difficulty. For instance: "Difficult as it may have been, the team persevered and achieved their goals."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult as it may have" without a clear contrasting clause. This phrase introduces a concession, so ensure a subsequent statement clarifies the outcome or result despite the difficulty. It is a common mistake to leave this phrase hanging without a proper resolution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult as it may have" functions as a concessive clause, introducing a statement that acknowledges a potential obstacle or challenge. It sets the stage for a contrasting statement, typically highlighting a positive outcome or action taken despite the difficulty. However, according to Ludwig, the phrase isn't correct. Examples are available above.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult as it may have" serves to introduce a concession before a contrasting statement. It's grammatically questionable, according to Ludwig AI. While it appears across various sources, including news, science, and general content, ensure its proper usage with a contrasting clause to avoid incomplete constructions. Better alternatives such as "difficult though it may have been" may provide better alternatives for clear and grammatically correct construction. Remember to contextualize it appropriately for either past or present scenarios to maintain precision. Its register ranges from neutral to formal, depending on the intended audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult though it may have been

Emphasizes the difficulty with the use of "though" instead of "as".

challenging as it might have been

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and uses "might" for a slightly different nuance.

even if it was difficult

Expresses the difficulty as a conditional situation.

despite its potential difficulty

Highlights the potential for difficulty.

notwithstanding its inherent challenges

More formal alternative, emphasizing inherent challenges.

regardless of the difficulty it posed

Focuses on the irrelevance of the difficulty.

however difficult it might have seemed

Adds an element of perception or appearance.

even with its possible complications

Substitutes "difficult" with "complications".

granting that it presented some difficulties

Acknowledges the existence of difficulties.

admitting its likely obstacles

Similar to the previous option, but uses "obstacles" instead.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "difficult as it may have" in a sentence?

The phrase "difficult as it may have" introduces a concession. Follow it with a contrasting statement. For example, "Difficult as it may have been, the team managed to succeed."

What phrases can I use instead of "difficult as it may have"?

You can use alternatives such as "difficult though it may have been", "challenging as it might have been", or "even if it was difficult" depending on the desired nuance.

Is there a difference in meaning between "difficult as it may be" and "difficult as it may have been"?

"Difficult as it may be" typically refers to a present or future difficulty, while "difficult as it may have been" refers to a past difficulty. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase "difficult as it may have" is grammatically incorrect.

What are common mistakes to avoid when using concessive phrases like "difficult as it may have"?

A common mistake is omitting the contrasting clause. Concessive phrases set up an expectation that will be countered, so ensure a clear contrasting statement follows. For instance, avoid saying just "Difficult as it may have", and instead complete the thought with something like "Difficult as it may have been, they persevered".