difficult requirement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult requirement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a condition or criterion that is challenging to meet or fulfill. Example: "The project has a difficult requirement that all team members must have at least five years of experience in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Now, instead of showing how the proposal will "contribute to enhancing parental/learner choice" - hardly a difficult requirement - applicants must merely "show they have taken account of the views of parents both in the school and in the community".

The Guardian

Besides making butanol straight off, Dr. Mullin wanted a microbe that could do it in the open air — a difficult requirement since all the candidates were anaerobic when they worked as gut microbes.

The New York Times - Science

Smith and Co. may indeed have created a passable sequel to "Skyfall," but they cheated, skipping the most important and difficult requirement of the project: a reference to the Bond movie's title, "Spectre," is nowhere to be found in the song's lyrics.

The New Yorker

This constraint can be a difficult requirement to meet in practice.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

This is usually a difficult requirement for most plants to confirm.

Safety and Security Review for the Process Industries Application of HAZOP, PHA and What-If Reviews

Previous work has indicated that matching microstrip probes to a sapphire resonator can be a difficult requirement.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This may result in the addition of even more difficult requirements to the already daunting list of legal and administrative conditions Central and Eastern European countries must meet before they can join the European Union.

The New York Times

Last year, the V.A. enacted this reform for veterans with P.T.S.D. related to combat: It lifted the difficult requirements for documenting specifically when and where a P.T.S.D.-linked trauma occurred, bending the benefit of the doubt in the veteran's favor.

The New York Times

The new approach has met less opposition from other agencies, like the Commerce Department, than the earlier plan, which went nowhere because some officials worried that it would hurt innovation by imposing expensive and technically difficult requirements on start-up Internet-based communication services.

The New York Times

Having met difficult requirements, this integration enables the measurements of key parameters of the burning ITER plasma.

Fusion Engineering and Design

However, one-channel paradigm comes with the problem of hidden terminal and poses difficult requirements on the design of MAC protocol for V2V communications.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, consider pairing "difficult requirement" with adverbs like "particularly", "especially", or "unusually" to highlight the degree of difficulty.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the difficulty of the requirement without sufficient justification. Overstating can undermine your credibility and make the requirement seem unattainable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult requirement" functions as a noun phrase, where "difficult" modifies the noun "requirement". It describes a condition or criterion that is challenging to fulfill. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult requirement" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a challenging condition or prerequisite. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct in written English. It commonly appears in News & Media and Scientific contexts, emphasizing the demanding nature of a specific condition. While straightforward, writers should ensure the context clarifies the difficulty and avoid exaggeration. Alternatives like "challenging criterion" or "stringent condition" can offer nuanced emphasis. Understanding these aspects can help you use the phrase effectively and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging criterion

Focuses on the demanding nature of the standard or benchmark.

stringent condition

Emphasizes the strictness and rigidity of the term.

demanding stipulation

Highlights the rigor and insistence of the provision.

arduous prerequisite

Stresses the effort and labor involved in meeting the condition.

complex necessity

Indicates the intricate and multifaceted nature of the need.

onerous task

Shifts the focus to the burdensome nature of what is required.

tough ask

Uses informal language to describe something that is hard to achieve.

formidable condition

Highlights the intimidating and daunting aspect of the term.

unyielding precondition

Emphasizes the inflexibility and firmness of the condition.

exacting standard

Focuses on the high level of precision and accuracy demanded.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to say "difficult requirement"?

You can use alternatives such as "challenging criterion", "stringent condition", or "demanding stipulation" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "difficult requirement" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult requirement" to describe a condition that is hard to meet. For example: "The project's success hinges on meeting a difficult requirement regarding data security."

Is "difficult requirement" formal or informal?

"Difficult requirement" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, you might consider using a more precise synonym such as "stringent condition".

What makes a requirement "difficult"?

A requirement can be considered "difficult" if it is hard to achieve due to factors like limited resources, technical challenges, or strict regulations. Understanding these factors helps in communicating the importance of the requirement.