difficult to try to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to try to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing the challenge of attempting to do something. Example: "It is often difficult to try to balance work and personal life effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's difficult to try to find that balance".

The New York Times

"You know, it's difficult to try to do something new each month".

The New York Times

"It would be difficult to try to take Clairol head- on.

The New York Times

It would be very difficult to try to convince people otherwise.

The New York Times

So it was difficult to try to create things that were new.

The New York Times

It's difficult to try to sell to people when you have cars parked on your greenway".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is hard to think of a more difficult place to try to learn your craft at the pinnacle of motorsport.

BBC

The HPA had a difficult task to try to locate the source of the infection.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is difficult, too, to try to reconstruct events — the birth of species — long past.

The New York Times - Science

It's a notoriously difficult place to try to play football for those not used to the conditions.

BBC

It's difficult enough to try to pick the right companies, let alone all of the emotional baggage that comes along with managing a stock portfolio.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to try to", ensure the sentence clearly articulates why the action is challenging. Providing context enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid pairing "difficult to try to" with other redundant phrases that reiterate the sense of challenge. This can make the writing sound repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to try to" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an infinitive. It expresses the degree of effort or challenge associated with undertaking a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to try to" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for conveying the challenges associated with undertaking an action. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's correct and appropriate for use in various contexts. Analysis of numerous examples shows its prevalence in news, academic, and scientific domains, highlighting its versatility and acceptance. While phrases like "hard to attempt to" or "challenging to endeavor to" offer similar meanings, "difficult to try to" strikes a balance between formality and directness, making it a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to attempt to

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "try" with "attempt", offering a more direct synonym.

challenging to endeavor to

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "try" with "endeavor", increasing the formality.

not easy to attempt to

Employs a negation to express difficulty, altering the tone slightly.

tough to undertake to

Replaces "difficult" with "tough" and "try" with "undertake", providing a more informal and emphatic tone.

complicated to make an effort to

Uses "complicated" instead of "difficult" and expands "try" into "make an effort", adding detail.

problematic to seek to

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and "try" with "seek", creating a more formal and analytical tone.

an uphill battle to strive to

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey the difficulty and replaces "try" with "strive", adding a sense of struggle.

a struggle to aim to

Expresses the difficulty as a "struggle" and replaces "try" with "aim", focusing on the effort involved.

requires considerable effort to attempt to

Focuses on the amount of effort required, quantifying the difficulty.

presents a significant challenge to undertake to

Highlights the challenge involved, making the difficulty more explicit.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult to try to" when you want to express that attempting a certain action involves significant challenges or obstacles. For example: "It is often difficult to try to balance work and personal life effectively."

What phrases are similar to "difficult to try to"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to attempt to", "challenging to endeavor to", or "not easy to attempt to" to express a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "difficult to try to"?

While "try to" can sometimes be implicit, using "difficult to try to" emphasizes the active attempt despite the challenges. It is not inherently redundant, but consider the context to avoid unnecessary repetition.

When should I use "difficult to do" instead of "difficult to try to"?

Use "difficult to do" when the focus is on the inherent difficulty of the action itself, regardless of whether an attempt is being made. Use "difficult to try to" when emphasizing the effort required in attempting something challenging. The nuance lies in highlighting the attempt versus the inherent difficulty.