difficult realisation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult realisation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a challenging or hard-to-accept understanding or insight that someone has come to. Example: "After months of denial, she finally faced the difficult realisation that her relationship was over."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It's certainly the most difficult realisation I've made, and it has taken a long time to feel OK.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ours was the difficult realisation that in the real world, it is sometimes impossible to separate the book from its author.

Independent

"Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real," Murdoch wrote in an essay entitled The Sublime and the Good.

The Guardian - Books

If we wanted a larger government as a share of GDP, we would have to raise taxes substantially on everyone.[Bold mine.]It seems to me that Mr Hubbard has a fundamental and difficult realisation of his own to make, to wit, that the candidate he supported lost the presidential election.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Later, in the finale, after some difficult realisations, Maura finds herself questioned by her daughter Ali, who asks if she has stopped transitioning.

Vice

In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry warned of the "extremely important and difficult period of realisation of the Minsk agreements".

The Guardian

A human rights-based approach to programming for children and women in Viet Nam: Key entry points and challenges Asian nations and socialist countries are often referred to ininternational discussions as especially difficult environmentsfor the realisation of human rights.

Unicef

However, disrupting the cancer stem cell compartment is made more difficult by the realisation that disruption of supporting cells around the stem cells, or differentiated tumour cells around cancer stem cells, could have deleterious effects by disrupting putative stem cell niches.

Breast Cancer Research

Communication is strongly documentation-based, and it is seen very difficult to confirm correct realisation, should the written requirements be ambiguous.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Communication is strongly documentation based, with weak interaction, making it very difficult to confirm correct realisation, should the written requirements be ambiguous.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

As with our findings, other qualitative works described long and difficult periods from the realisation of signs and symptoms of psychosis to the initiation of help seeking.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult realisation" when you want to emphasize not just the act of understanding, but also the struggle or emotional challenge associated with that understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult realisation" when a simpler term like 'understanding' or 'awareness' suffices. Reserve it for situations where the realisation involves overcoming a significant mental or emotional hurdle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult realisation" functions as a noun phrase, where 'difficult' modifies the noun 'realisation'. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. Examples show it describing a challenging or hard-to-accept understanding.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult realisation" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a challenging or uneasy understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely frequent, its presence in news, business, and scientific contexts suggests a versatile application. When using this phrase, remember to emphasize the struggle or emotional weight that accompanies the understanding. Consider alternatives like "challenging realization" or "painful recognition" to refine the nuance of your writing. Reserve "difficult realisation" for cases where the understanding is truly hard-won, to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging realization

Replaces 'difficult' with 'challenging', emphasizing the demanding nature of the understanding.

hard realization

Uses 'hard' instead of 'difficult', focusing on the unpleasant or tough nature of the insight.

unpleasant realization

Highlights the unwelcome nature of the understanding.

tough realization

Emphasizes the resilience needed to accept the understanding.

painful recognition

Shifts from 'realization' to 'recognition', emphasizing the emotional discomfort.

sobering awareness

Replaces 'realisation' with 'awareness', suggesting a serious and reflective understanding.

harsh truth

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct expression, emphasizing the unvarnished reality.

bitter truth

Similar to 'harsh truth', but with a stronger emphasis on the negative emotional impact.

unsettling insight

Highlights the disturbing nature of the understanding gained.

grim awakening

Uses a metaphorical term to express a sudden, unpleasant understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult realisation" to describe an understanding that is hard to accept or acknowledge. For example, "She came to the "difficult realisation" that her efforts were not enough".

What's a good alternative to "difficult realisation"?

Alternatives include "challenging realization", "hard realization", or "painful recognition", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it ever wrong to use "difficult realisation"?

It's not grammatically incorrect, but overuse can dilute its impact. Reserve "difficult realisation" for situations where the understanding truly involves a struggle or emotional challenge. Otherwise, a simpler term like "understanding" may be more appropriate.

What makes "difficult realisation" different from a simple 'understanding'?

While 'understanding' simply refers to comprehending something, "difficult realisation" implies an understanding that is hard to accept, often because it contradicts one's beliefs or desires, or involves emotional discomfort. A "difficult realisation" carries an emotional weight that a simple understanding does not.