difficult to afford

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to afford" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the financial challenges of purchasing or maintaining something. Example: "Many families find it difficult to afford quality healthcare in today's economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Increases in tuition have been necessary, even as students find it more difficult to afford.

The New York Times

"It's getting more difficult to afford this type of generosity," he said.

The New York Times

This is serving populations that often times find it difficult to afford housing".

The New York Times

I'm an art lover, but I find it difficult to afford anything in the Chelsea neighborhood.

The New York Times

The average Wal-Mart worker earns less than $20,000 a year, making the company's health insurance difficult to afford.

The New York Times

I said I would find it difficult to afford it and believed my local garage could supply one for less.

The Guardian - Money

In the top quartile, real profits growth averaged 35.4%; in the bottom 24.2%.As societies we have made pension promises that will be very difficult to afford.

The Economist

It was hard to pay the rent and buy food, but especially difficult to afford Dad's three-pack-a-day habit.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Our research shows that one in eight customers in England and Wales are already finding it difficult to afford their water bill," he said.

Independent

I don't think it's enough for any adult to live on, as it would be difficult to afford a stable living and transportation situation.

The New York Times

While his persistence must be respected, it is difficult to afford the player ranked 311th in the world much of a shout.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "difficult to afford", be specific about what is proving challenging to finance and why. For example, instead of saying "Healthcare is difficult to afford", specify "For many low-income families, quality healthcare is difficult to afford due to high insurance premiums and deductibles".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to afford" without context. Always clarify who is finding it difficult and why. For instance, don't just state "Housing is difficult to afford". Instead, explain "For young professionals in major cities, housing is difficult to afford due to stagnant wages and rising rental costs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to afford" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the characteristic of something being challenging to acquire or maintain due to financial constraints. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to afford" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe financial challenges in acquiring or maintaining something. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use and acceptability. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, followed by science and formal business settings. When using the phrase, specificity and context are crucial to avoid overgeneralizations. Consider alternatives like "hard to pay for" or "cost prohibitive" for variety. The phrase's consistent usage and high source quality reflect its solid standing in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unaffordable

A more concise way of saying "difficult to afford".

Hard to pay for

Directly indicates the struggle to meet the financial obligations.

Cost prohibitive

Emphasizes the excessive cost as the main obstacle.

Not within budget

Directly states that the item or service exceeds budgetary limits.

Financially challenging

Highlights the financial difficulties associated with acquisition.

Beyond one's means

Indicates that the cost exceeds one's financial capacity.

Expensive for

Highlights that something is costly in relation to the person who wants to buy it.

Priced out of reach

Expresses the idea that the price is too high for someone to afford.

Too costly to obtain

Focuses on the financial burden of getting something.

A strain on the budget

Indicates that purchasing something would cause financial stress.

FAQs

What does "difficult to afford" mean?

The phrase "difficult to afford" means that something is challenging to purchase or maintain due to its high cost relative to one's available financial resources.

What are some alternatives to "difficult to afford"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to pay for", "cost prohibitive", or "financially challenging" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "unaffordable" or "difficult to afford"?

Both "unaffordable" and "difficult to afford" are correct. "Unaffordable" is more concise, while "difficult to afford" provides a slightly more nuanced description of the financial challenge.

How can I use "difficult to afford" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to afford" in sentences like: "Many families find quality childcare "difficult to afford"", or "With rising tuition costs, college is becoming increasingly "difficult to afford" for middle-class families".