difficult effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or endeavor that requires significant struggle or challenge to accomplish. Example: "Completing the marathon was a difficult effort, but the sense of achievement made it worthwhile."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

75 min: Farrell misses the conversion, a difficult effort sailing well wide left.

The Guardian - Sport

Rutgers University law professor Craig Oren said it could be a difficult effort.

The Washington Post

Mr. Bhusri rose fast at PeopleSoft, but he became caught up in a difficult effort to move PeopleSoft products online.

The New York Times - Tech

They give expression to the theme that love helps human beings in their difficult effort to ascend to the divine.

Encyclopedia Britannica

American officials fear any such bid would prompt an Israeli response and set back the already difficult effort to resume formal peace talks.

The New York Times

Michael R. Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods at the F.D.A., said that the spice industry needs to clean up poor storage practices, a difficult effort.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The finding could complicate the already difficult efforts to limit global warming.

The New York Times

In several states, Republican legislators tried to increase voter-ID requirements, limit voting times and make registration more difficult, efforts that civil rights groups aggressively opposed.

The New York Times

Two alarming moments for Boruc when he failed to gather worthy but hardly difficult efforts did nothing to lessen the sense that Chelsea were now well in charge.

Independent

Russia sharply criticized the indictment and said it complicates its already difficult efforts to mediate a settlement of the conflict between NATO and Yugoslavia.

The Washington Post

In situations where ensuring privacy is difficult, efforts should be made to use quiet voices or point to, rather than read, sensitive text, especially in cases of curtain barriers in place of walls.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "difficult effort", ensure that the context clearly indicates what makes the effort challenging. Providing specific details enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult effort" when a simpler term like "task" or "attempt" would suffice. Overusing "difficult effort" can weaken your writing. Consider whether the level of challenge genuinely warrants this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult effort" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "difficult" modifies the noun "effort". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable. The noun phrase typically acts as a subject complement or direct object in a sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult effort" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an undertaking that is challenging or requires significant exertion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and academic writing, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies the challenges involved and avoid redundancy by considering simpler alternatives when appropriate. While versatile, consider whether a metaphor like "uphill battle" might be more impactful. Use it when you want to communicate the intensity and complexity of a particular challenge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging endeavor

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "effort" with "endeavor", both synonyms that maintain a similar level of formality and meaning.

arduous task

"Arduous" implies a more strenuous and prolonged difficulty than "difficult", and "task" is a more specific and concrete alternative to "effort".

demanding undertaking

"Demanding" highlights the high requirements of the effort, and "undertaking" suggests a project of some significance.

taxing endeavor

"Taxing" emphasizes the depleting or burdensome nature of the effort.

grueling task

"Grueling" implies a physically or mentally exhausting effort.

strenuous activity

"Strenuous" suggests high energy expenditure, and "activity" is a more general term than "effort".

laborious work

"Laborious" emphasizes the hard work involved, and "work" is a common substitute for "effort".

complex operation

Replaces "effort" with "operation" which implies a procedure involving multiple steps and elements, while "complex" shifts the focus to intricacy.

formidable attempt

Expresses the high degree of difficulty, and uses attempt which highlights the uncertainty of success.

uphill battle

Uses a metaphor to describe the challenge as a struggle against resistance.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult effort" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult effort" to describe any task or undertaking that requires significant exertion or faces considerable obstacles. For example, "Stabilizing the economy after the crisis was a "difficult effort"."

What are some alternatives to "difficult effort"?

Alternatives include "challenging endeavor", "arduous task", or "demanding undertaking", each carrying slightly different connotations of the challenge involved.

Is "difficult effort" redundant?

While "difficult" and "effort" are not inherently redundant, consider whether the difficulty is already implied in the context. If so, a simpler term like "task" or "attempt" might be more concise.

What's the difference between "difficult effort" and "uphill battle"?

"Difficult effort" is a more literal description of a challenging undertaking, while "uphill battle" is a metaphorical expression implying resistance and struggle. The choice depends on the desired tone and emphasis.