difficult difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult difficulty" is not standard or commonly used in written English.
It may be used to emphasize the challenging nature of a particular difficulty, but it can come across as redundant or awkward. Example: "The project presented a difficult difficulty that required innovative solutions from the team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Their personal feelings towards statistics (as measured by the Affect component) were slightly less positive e.g. feelings of insecurity, stress, fear and frustration and they tended to view statistics as difficult (Difficulty).

BMC Medical Education

Standard:* The Normal or Difficult Difficulty.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The most frequent reasons why medical students felt neurology was difficult were: difficulty with neuroanatomy teachings (49%), occurrence of complex diagnoses (35%), insufficient teaching (32%) and inadequate neurology teachers (32%) [Table 2].

BMC Medical Education

Only tasks of goals that are at least 'a little important' (goal importance score: 1) and 'a little difficult' (goal difficulty score: 1) will be fully assessed at the task level.

BMC Health Services Research

It makes everything more difficult, and difficulties are exhausting, but they can force you to think harder".

The New York Times - Magazine

Depicting the fates of infantry soldiers from basic training through deployment in Vietnam to the difficult reentry difficulties they face on their long way home, "Tracers" is as much a visceral experience as a dramatic presentation.

Los Angeles Times

The game is intentionally difficult; its easiest difficulty level is called "challenging", and the next easiest difficulty level is called "hard".

Wikipedia

Difficult Solutions The difficulty of justification complicates the task of pushing a costly health care overhaul, especially since one of the administration's recommended sources of financing — a curb on tax deductions for the affluent — has faded under Congressional resistance.

The New York Times

"The problem was the matches against Zenit always were difficult, and the difficulty was increased because it was already autumn and they were playing on their artificial surface," Kucherevskyi said.

The Guardian - Sport

Since analgesic evaluation in patients with Rett syndrome may be difficult due to difficulty in communication, close patient observation and careful titration of analgesic drugs are required.

JA Clinical Reports

Since many possible patterns are to be evaluated, the task is difficult, and its difficulty grows exponentially with increasing number of FAs.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the redundant phrase "difficult difficulty". Opt for more concise and impactful alternatives like "complex challenge" or "formidable obstacle".

Common error

Do not use "difficult difficulty" as it is repetitive. Choose a single, descriptive word or phrase instead to convey the intended meaning effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult difficulty" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "difficult" attempts to modify the noun "difficulty". Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not standard and can be redundant, diminishing its effectiveness in communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult difficulty" is a grammatically questionable and semantically redundant phrase. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to avoid this construction in favor of stronger, more concise alternatives like "complex challenge" or "formidable obstacle". While the phrase may appear in various contexts such as science, news, and wiki sources, its infrequent usage and lack of grammatical precision make it a less desirable choice for effective communication. Choosing alternative phrases will improve clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complex challenge

Replaces both words with synonyms that suggest intricacy and demanding effort.

arduous task

Emphasizes the effort and labor involved in overcoming the difficulty.

significant problem

Highlights the importance and impact of the difficulty.

formidable obstacle

Suggests that the difficulty is a substantial barrier to progress.

intricate issue

Focuses on the complex and interwoven nature of the difficulty.

tough predicament

Highlights a difficult or unpleasant situation.

serious complication

Indicates that the difficulty is a critical and potentially problematic element.

demanding situation

Emphasizes the need of a lot of effort to manage the difficulty.

challenging endeavor

Conveys that the difficulty requires considerable effort and skill.

heavy burden

Highlights the oppressive or onerous nature of the difficulty.

FAQs

What does "difficult difficulty" mean?

The phrase "difficult difficulty" is a redundant expression where "difficult" is used to describe a "difficulty". It's generally better to use a single strong word or phrase to convey the challenging nature of the situation.

How can I avoid using "difficult difficulty" in my writing?

To avoid using "difficult difficulty", consider using a single word or phrase that encapsulates the challenging aspect you want to express. Alternatives include "complex challenge" or "formidable obstacle".

Is "difficult difficulty" grammatically correct?

No, "difficult difficulty" is not considered grammatically correct due to its redundant nature. It's better to choose a more concise and impactful expression.

What are some alternatives to "difficult difficulty" that emphasize the severity of a problem?

To emphasize the severity of a problem without using "difficult difficulty", you could use phrases such as "serious complication", "tough predicament", or "significant problem". These highlight the weight and impact of the issue.