due to the difficulty of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "due to the difficulty of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a useful phrase to explain why something has not happened or is difficult. For example, "Due to the difficulty of the problem, it took me hours to solve."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is partially due to the difficulty of measuring creativity.

Video Games and Creativity

This is partly due to the difficulty of tracking students through this data.

The Guardian

Two participants were not included in the sleep-cycle analysis due to the difficulty of clearly identifying sleep cycles.

Nature

That was partly due to the difficulty of obtaining rigorous data about the genetics of such traits.

Britannica

This is due to the difficulty of perceiving hidden risks in order to adjust gait strategies.

Applied Ergonomics

However, only limited results have been obtained due to the difficulty of this production-control problem.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

So far, most research on counseling has been small-scale and qualitative due to the difficulty of obtaining data.

Stanford University

The statistics agency claims this is due to the difficulty of bridging the new and old consumer-price indexes.

The Economist

Friedman says the lack of interest in finding the next potentially groundbreaking medications is in part due to the difficulty of bringing psychotropic drugs to market.

The Guardian

The former business secretary declined to shadow the post after Labour lost the election due to the difficulty of doing so from the Lords.

The Guardian

Some of the cabinet posts are not yet filled, officials said, due to the difficulty of contacting people and ensuring their agreement to take part.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "due to the difficulty of", ensure that the noun or noun phrase following it clearly identifies what is challenging. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "due to the difficulty of" interchangeably with "because of". "Due to" should technically only be used when it can be replaced by "caused by". For general causal relationships, "because of" is often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "due to the difficulty of" functions as a causal connector, linking a challenge or obstacle to its consequence. It explains why something is the way it is, highlighting the role of difficulty as the determining factor, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

27%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "due to the difficulty of" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that explains the cause or reason behind a challenging situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts such as science, news, and academia. While versatile, remember that alternatives like "owing to the difficulty of" can add nuance, and careful construction is important to avoid misusing "due to" as a general preposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attributable to the difficulty of

This alternative uses "attributable" to emphasize the cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting that the difficulty is the direct reason.

owing to the difficulty of

Replaces "due" with "owing", providing a slightly more formal tone while retaining the meaning.

on account of the difficulty of

Substitutes "due" with "on account of", offering a more elaborate way to indicate the reason.

because of the difficulty of

Replaces "due" with "because", making the phrase more direct and commonly used.

as a result of the difficulty of

Emphasizes the consequence of the difficulty, highlighting that something happened because of it.

the difficulty of which caused

This restructures the sentence to emphasize the difficulty as the subject that caused a specific outcome.

the impediment posed by the difficulty of

Introduces "impediment" to underline that the difficulty acts as a barrier or obstruction.

the challenge presented by the difficulty of

Focuses on the difficulty as a challenge that needs to be overcome.

the problem lies in the difficulty of

Shifts the focus to identifying the difficulty as the core issue or problem.

the limitations imposed by the difficulty of

Highlights that the difficulty restricts or limits what can be achieved.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "due to the difficulty of" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives such as "owing to the difficulty of", "because of the difficulty of", or "attributable to the difficulty of" to add variety to your writing.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "Due to the difficulty of"?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "Due to the difficulty of" can sometimes sound awkward. Consider rephrasing the sentence to improve flow and clarity, such as "The difficulty of X caused Y".

What is the difference between "due to" and "because of"?

"Due to" should technically only be used when it can be replaced by "caused by". "Because of" is a more general preposition used to indicate cause and effect. For example, "The game was canceled because of rain" is generally preferred over "The game was canceled due to rain".

When is it more appropriate to use "owing to the difficulty of" instead of "due to the difficulty of"?

"Owing to the difficulty of" is often perceived as more formal than "due to the difficulty of". Use it in contexts where a more elevated or sophisticated tone is desired, such as in academic or formal writing.