difficult though

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult though" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a clause that provides an exception to a previous statement. For example: "Running a marathon is an incredible accomplishment, difficult though it may be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is difficult, though, for us to speak of individuals".

Independent

"It's difficult, though, to pass the bill through Parliament".

The New York Times

It's difficult, though, isn't it, being a childless woman?

The Guardian - Arts

"It may be difficult, though," Mr. Rother said.

The New York Times

This would make conversation difficult, though, and at Cafe Kiev, you'll have much to discuss.

The New York Times - Food

Gaining such acceptance can be difficult, though, as Bravado recently learned firsthand.

The New York Times

Comparisons are difficult, though, since the government partly subsidizes both methods of generating electricity.

The New York Times

Recovery may be difficult though, as almost 30 of the employees have already retired.

The New York Times

It's difficult, though, to understand what he intends to do if he's sworn in.

The New Yorker

It was difficult, though, to perfect their chocolate production at such a crude facility.

The New York Times - Food

It is difficult, though, to find fault with Kraft's work in the last four years.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult though" to acknowledge a challenge or drawback before presenting a contrasting or mitigating point. This can enhance the nuance and credibility of your argument.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where the subject performing the difficult action is unclear. Instead, focus on active voice to make the sentence more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The task was difficult though," write "Completing the task was difficult, though..."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult though" functions as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a clause that acknowledges a challenge or obstacle while setting up a contrasting element or concession. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and the numerous examples show its adaptability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult though" is a grammatically correct and frequently used conjunction phrase that serves to acknowledge a challenge before introducing a contrasting idea. Ludwig AI highlights its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, its register ranges from neutral to slightly formal. When employing this phrase, writers should focus on active voice and maintain a balanced perspective to enhance clarity and impact. Alternative phrasing such as "challenging nevertheless" can be used to introduce similar connotations, and writers can adapt that to suit the context and formality of their writing. The phrase is very common and used in a range of authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging nevertheless

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and uses "nevertheless" instead of "though" to indicate contrast.

arduous yet

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous" and "though" with "yet", maintaining a similar level of formality.

hard but

Uses simpler synonyms for both words, making it slightly less formal.

tough however

Replaces "difficult" with "tough" and "though" with "however", resulting in a more casual tone.

complicated nonetheless

Emphasizes the complexity rather than the difficulty, while still providing a contrast.

demanding still

Focuses on the demanding nature of the situation, using "still" to indicate the contrasting element.

trying even so

Emphasizes the trying nature of something, using "even so" as a contrasting conjunction.

problematic regardless

Highlights the problematic aspect and uses "regardless" to show that something proceeds despite the problem.

taxing all the same

Replaces "difficult" with "taxing" and uses "all the same" to maintain the contrasting idea.

formidable be that as it may

Replaces "difficult" with "formidable" and uses the more formal phrase "be that as it may" to introduce the contrasting element.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult though" to introduce a clause that acknowledges a challenge before presenting a contrasting point. For example, "The climb was steep, difficult though it was, the view from the top was breathtaking."

What phrases are similar to "difficult though"?

You can use phrases like "challenging nevertheless", "arduous yet", or "hard but" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "difficult though" at the beginning of a sentence?

While it is grammatically correct, it's less common and can sound awkward. It's generally better to place the "difficult though" clause after the main clause. For example, "Achieving the goal was difficult though, possible" is usually better than "Difficult though achieving the goal was, it was possible."

What's the difference between "difficult though" and "although difficult"?

"Difficult though" places more emphasis on the difficulty, creating a slightly more dramatic or emphatic effect. "Although difficult" is a more standard and neutral way to acknowledge the difficulty. Functionally, they are often interchangeable.