difficult to maintain that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to maintain that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a challenging position or argument that is hard to uphold or support. Example: "In light of the new evidence, it is difficult to maintain that the previous conclusions were accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Is it difficult to maintain that kind of fitness and form all year?

The New York Times

The department recently hit a peak strength of 40,710 officers, but it has found it difficult to maintain that size because officers are retiring faster than new cadets are recruited.

The New York Times

The natural law tradition has undergone a considerable refinement in the 20th century, mainly because its classical, popular version faced an obvious objection about its core insight: it is just difficult to maintain that morally bad law is not law.

SEP

"As a small union, it can be difficult to maintain that viability," acknowledges Penman.

The Guardian

It also makes it more difficult to maintain that interception did not occur.There are other niggles.

The Economist

I was just 5 feet 8 and 175 pounds, and it was difficult to maintain that intensity over 100 games.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The move that the central bank announced Wednesday would make it more difficult for China to maintain that policy.

The New York Times

Have you seen that kind of friendship endure in the literary world around you? How difficult is it to maintain that kind of bond?

The New Yorker

How difficult it must have been, to maintain that kind of a secret for so long and in the context of such a public life.

The New Yorker

This could mean code that's more difficult to maintain, code that takes longer to execute, or code written in an old language/framework that other developers don't want to use anymore.

TechCrunch

Many patients require more than one IOP-lowering drug [ 5] resulting in complex medication regimens that may be difficult to maintain and that can lead to non-compliance [ 6].

BMC Ophthalmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to maintain that", ensure the context clearly defines what "that" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "difficult to maintain that" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hard to keep up with" or "not easy to manage" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to maintain that" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a challenge or obstacle. The word "difficult" functions as a subjective predicative complement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to maintain that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the challenge of sustaining a particular belief, situation, or condition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, while usable in various contexts, it appears more frequently in news and media, science, and encyclopedia articles. Its register is relatively neutral, making it suitable for formal and semi-formal writing. When choosing alternatives, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, opting for phrases like "challenging to sustain that" for a more formal tone or "hard to keep that up" for something more casual. Remember to clarify the referent of "that" to avoid ambiguity. Overall, while a valid and useful phrase, it should be used thoughtfully, considering the context and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging to sustain that

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "maintain" with "sustain" for a more formal tone.

hard to keep that up

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and uses the phrasal verb "keep up" to convey maintaining something.

tough to uphold that

Replaces "difficult" with "tough" and "maintain" with "uphold", suggesting a struggle to defend or support something.

not easy to preserve that

Emphasizes the effort required to prevent something from deteriorating or being lost.

hard to continue with that

Focuses on the difficulty of persisting with a particular course of action or belief.

difficult to perpetuate that

Highlights the challenge of ensuring something continues to exist or occur.

hard to validate that

Focuses on the struggle to corroborate the veracity of a claim

demanding to preserve that

Highlights the requirements to maintain something over time

taxing to validate that

Focuses on something being extremely hard

onerous to perpetuate that

Highlights the challenge of ensuring that a situation continues to exist

FAQs

What does "difficult to maintain that" mean?

The phrase "difficult to maintain that" indicates that something, such as a belief, a condition, or a practice, is challenging to sustain or continue.

What can I say instead of "difficult to maintain that"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to keep that up", "challenging to sustain that", or "tough to uphold that" depending on the specific context.

Is "difficult to maintain that" formal or informal?

"Difficult to maintain that" leans towards a more formal register. In informal settings, you might prefer phrases like "hard to keep that going" or "not easy to keep that up".

How to use "difficult to maintain that" in a sentence?

Use "difficult to maintain that" when you want to express that a certain position, situation, or condition is hard to preserve or uphold. For example, "Given the circumstances, it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain that everything is under control".