difficult as it might have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult as it might have" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a truncated version of a more complete expression, likely intended to convey a hypothetical situation regarding difficulty. Example: "Difficult as it might have been, we managed to complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But not as difficult as it might have been.

The Guardian - Sport

As difficult as it might have been to reschedule at late notice, there was no excuse for CBS walking away from the coverage when the rain arrived around 6pm – which they were always going to do unless Nadal and Djokovic, baseline specialists and two of the slowest players on the tour, somehow conspired to complete the final in a little over two hours.

The Guardian - Sport

Some would say that Ben-Gurion's decision, as difficult as it might have been, to strike against the Irgun's weapons ship was a key moment for the Jewish state.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It might have been something as small as getting a 100 on a difficult exam or as big as overcoming a physical challenge.

Forbes

It might have cultural roots as well.

The New York Times - Arts

"It might have been difficult way back when.

BBC

It might have been difficult for physicians to estimate the amount of patients using the Internet.

Clinical Rheumatology

Politically, it might have been a little bit difficult.

Vice

Key3Media, the trade show promoter behind Comdex, said last week that it might have to file for bankruptcy protection as the company's "best alternative in these difficult times".

The New York Times

"The response from away fans has not been as difficult as might have been anticipated and, with our own supporters, Lee has established himself as a favourite.

The Guardian - Sport

The job is not as difficult as it might seem: his victims have very small brainpans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "difficult as it may have been" or "however difficult it might have been" to ensure clarity and acceptance among a wider audience. This avoids potential confusion and enhances the professional tone of your writing.

Common error

Avoid mixing past and present tenses inappropriately. Ensure that if you're discussing a hypothetical past difficulty, all related verbs are correctly conjugated. For example, instead of "difficult as it might have", use "difficult as it may have been".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult as it might have" functions as an introductory clause setting a hypothetical condition. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect, often being a truncated version of a more complete expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult as it might have" is intended to introduce a hypothetical condition of difficulty, often setting the stage for a contrasting outcome. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting it's a truncated form. While it appears mostly in news and media contexts, its infrequent use and grammatical issues suggest opting for alternatives like "difficult as it may have been" for clarity and formality. Given its questionable status, careful consideration and context are crucial when employing this phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Difficult as it may have been

Changes 'might' to 'may', altering the degree of possibility while maintaining a similar structure.

As difficult as it could have been

Replaces 'might' with 'could', suggesting a potential but unrealized level of difficulty.

However difficult it might have been

Adds 'however' for emphasis, highlighting the contrast between the difficulty and the outcome.

Despite how difficult it might have been

Uses 'despite' to introduce a contrasting element, focusing on overcoming the challenge.

Regardless of how difficult it might have been

Emphasizes that the difficulty did not change the outcome.

No matter how difficult it might have been

Highlights that the degree of difficulty was inconsequential to the final result.

Even if it might have been difficult

Shifts the focus to the hypothetical possibility of difficulty.

Challenging as it might have been

Substitutes 'difficult' with 'challenging', offering a synonym with a slightly different nuance.

Hard as it might have been

Uses 'hard' instead of 'difficult', providing a more informal alternative.

Tough as it might have been

Replaces 'difficult' with 'tough', offering a more colloquial alternative.

FAQs

What's a grammatically sound alternative to "difficult as it might have"?

Consider using phrases like "difficult as it may have been" or "however difficult it might have been" for clearer and more widely accepted expression.

How can I use "difficult as it might have been" correctly in a sentence?

While "difficult as it might have" is grammatically questionable, you can use similar phrases correctly by ensuring proper tense agreement and context. For instance: "Challenging as it might have been, we succeeded."

Is there a difference between "difficult as it might be" and "difficult as it might have been"?

Yes, "difficult as it might be" implies a present or future possibility, while "difficult as it might have been" implies a past hypothetical situation. However, ensure the latter is grammatically correct; consider "difficult as it may have been" instead.

Why is "difficult as it might have" considered less grammatically correct?

The phrase is a truncated version of a complete expression, likely intended to convey a hypothetical situation regarding difficulty. A full version should be, "Difficult as it might have been, we managed to complete the project on time."