difficult traffic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult traffic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where traffic conditions are challenging or problematic, often due to congestion or roadwork. Example: "I left for work early, but I still got stuck in difficult traffic on the way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The procession, which the newspaper Les Echos dubbed "L'opération escargot" (Operation Snail), caused "extremely difficult" traffic jams that stretched for two hundred and forty kilometers, according to the National Traffic Information Center.

The New Yorker

This could be translated as a sign of difficult traffic acquisition.

TechCrunch

Managing stress in difficult traffic conditions is a multifaceted activity in which proper traffic control can play a significant part.

Journal of Transport & Health

Another cognitive test strongly associated with driving ability in relation to avoiding difficult traffic situations is the Trail Making Test [8, 9].

European Transport Research Review

Numerical examples, which include the difficult traffic signal control problem, are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the WENO scheme in which the results are in good agreement with the analytical counterparts.

Journal of Computational Physics

A fellow mother of tweens said to me today, "I was driving the kids to school this morning, and just as I was concentrating on a difficult traffic merge, one of them asked, 'Who's Bruce Jenner?' Ugh, I had no idea what to say!

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's getting difficult because traffic's gone up 200 per cent.

Independent

Evonne M. Klein, Darien's first selectwoman, said it had become difficult for traffic and pedestrians to cross the road and that she was "delighted" by the vote.

The New York Times

"Despite a difficult air-traffic-control environment and challenging weather events, we flew a record 117 million passengers during fiscal year 2000," Leo F. Mullin, Delta's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.

The New York Times

Police officials acknowledged that with so many people, it was difficult to predict traffic flow.

The New York Times

And avoid stresses like difficult individuals, even traffic jams, if you can.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing traffic, be specific about the cause of the difficulty if known (e.g., "difficult traffic due to construction").

Common error

While "difficult traffic" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation. Alternatives like "heavy traffic" or "a traffic jam" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult traffic" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "traffic". Ludwig examples show it describing challenging road conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult traffic" effectively conveys challenging or problematic road conditions. As Ludwig AI states, it is correct and usable in written English. While "heavy traffic" is a common alternative, "difficult traffic" is useful in formal contexts to highlight the challenges involved. Ludwig's examples show that it appears in news, science, and business contexts, making it a versatile phrase. When using this phrase, it is better to specify the reason behind the traffic difficulty to provide more clarity for readers. In conclusion, is a perfectly valid term and is understood in news, formal and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heavy traffic

Focuses on the volume of traffic, implying difficulty.

congested traffic

Highlights the packed nature of the traffic.

slow-moving traffic

Emphasizes the reduced speed of vehicles.

bumper-to-bumper traffic

Describes closely packed vehicles moving very slowly.

gridlocked traffic

Indicates traffic that is completely stopped.

challenging traffic conditions

Uses a more formal tone to describe the difficulty.

problematic traffic flow

Focuses on the inefficiency of traffic movement.

dense traffic

Highlights the high concentration of vehicles.

obstructed traffic

Indicates that something is blocking or slowing down traffic.

impeded traffic

Similar to obstructed, but with a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult traffic" to describe situations where driving is challenging due to congestion or other issues. For example, "I was late because I encountered "difficult traffic" on the highway."

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult traffic"?

Instead of "difficult traffic", you could say "heavy traffic", "congested traffic", or "slow-moving traffic" depending on the specific situation.

Is it better to say "difficult traffic" or "heavy traffic"?

Both phrases are correct, but "heavy traffic" is generally more common in everyday conversation. "Difficult traffic" might be more appropriate in formal writing or when emphasizing the challenges it presents.

What causes "difficult traffic"?

"Difficult traffic" can be caused by several reasons, including road construction, accidents, rush hour congestion, or adverse weather conditions.