difficulty in doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty in doing" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The difficulty in doing this task is that it requires a lot of coordination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

She apparently had difficulty in doing so.

Cornell University

HUNT -- The Americans probably have more difficulty in doing that.

The New York Times

The main difficulty in doing that comes from non-smoothness of the operators u↦u±.

Journal of Functional Analysis

I have no reason to think that we will have any difficulty in doing that.

The Telegraph

"But that doesn't mean there's any difficulty in doing the right thing for our firm.

The New York Times

The difficulty in doing the software is the inability to visualize the skin conductance values in real time.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

There are two main difficulties in doing this.

Journal of Computational Physics

However, they usually have difficulties in doing so.

Gait & Posture

"Russia still has visible difficulties in doing so.

The Guardian - Sport

Difficulties in doing randomised clinical trials should be addressed by measures to evaluate learning curves and alleviate equipoise problems.

The Lancet

In Venezuela, the announcement of such agreements often leads nowhere, in part because of difficulties in doing business here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a task's complexity, use "difficulty in doing" to highlight inherent challenges, not just a lack of skill. For example, "The difficulty in doing surgery lies in managing unforeseen complications."

Common error

Avoid using "difficulty in doing" for tasks that are simply new or require basic effort. Reserve it for situations where significant obstacles or complexities exist. For instance, saying "I have difficulty in doing brushing my teeth" is inappropriate unless a genuine physical impairment exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty in doing" functions as a noun phrase, with "difficulty" as the head noun and "in doing" acting as a prepositional phrase modifying the noun. This construction is used to describe the degree of trouble or complexity involved in performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirmed, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficulty in doing" serves as a versatile phrase used to articulate the challenges and complexities inherent in performing an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, further supported by numerous examples across diverse fields such as news, science, and academia. Its neutral to formal register makes it appropriate for both professional and informative contexts. When crafting your writing, remember to reserve "difficulty in doing" for situations where genuine obstacles exist and to consider related phrases for more nuanced expressions of challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenge in performing

Emphasizes the test of one's abilities or resources during execution; more active than "difficulty".

obstacle to achieving

Highlights a barrier that hinders progress; more goal-oriented than "difficulty".

impediment to accomplishing

Stresses a hindrance that prevents completion; more formal than "difficulty".

hardship in completing

Focuses on the strenuous nature of finishing something; emphasizes effort more than "difficulty".

complexity in executing

Points out intricate elements making performance tough; highlights complicated processes more than "difficulty".

trouble with undertaking

Signals potential issues at the commencement; focuses on initial problems unlike "difficulty".

setback to fulfilling

Indicates a temporary delay in meeting a target; more focused on delays than pure "difficulty".

struggle to finalize

Conveys a strong effort against resistance towards closing out tasks; emphasizes effort where "difficulty" notes problems.

problem in attaining

Specifies a hurdle affecting reaching objectives; more outcome driven than solely focusing on the process 'doing'.

snag in realizing

Implies an unforeseen hitch blocking manifestion; focuses on unexpected blocks versus general task "difficulty".

FAQs

How can I use "difficulty in doing" in a sentence?

Use "difficulty in doing" to describe inherent challenges or obstacles in performing an action. For example, "There is a significant "challenge in performing" this task due to the lack of resources."

What are some alternatives to "difficulty in doing"?

You can use alternatives such as ""challenge in performing"", "obstacle to achieving", or "impediment to accomplishing" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "difficulty in doing" or "difficulty to do"?

"Difficulty in doing" is typically followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), while "difficulty to do" implies a more direct infinitive usage. Both are correct but used in different contexts. For example, "There is a "problem in attaining" the objective" versus "It is difficult to do."

What's the difference between "difficulty in doing" and "difficulties in doing"?

"Difficulty in doing" is generally used to refer to a general challenge associated with an activity, while "difficulties in doing" refers to specific instances or types of challenges encountered while performing an activity. For example, "The "complexity in executing" this project is considerable" versus "There were several setbacks in doing the project".