during difficult times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during difficult times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to challenging or adverse situations that people may face in various contexts, such as personal struggles, economic downturns, or global crises. Example: "Many people find strength and resilience during difficult times, helping them to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its economy has thrived during difficult times.

The New York Times

Games can be particularly useful during difficult times.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Celebrate success and support people during difficult times.

The Guardian

"It's not a good idea being large during difficult times".

The Guardian - Books

Scruff always brought solace and joy, especially during difficult times.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Food security takes on a heightened importance during difficult times".

The New York Times - Food

"Gambling expansion typically happens during difficult times," he said.

The New York Times

They fly to celebrate birthdays, graduations, and family reunions, and support one another during difficult times.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Fiona Thomson Scruff always brought solace and joy, especially during difficult times.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some people categorize image upkeep as little indulgences during difficult times.

The New York Times

And some experts say singles seek the comfort of relationships during difficult times.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during difficult times", consider emphasizing the actions taken or the qualities demonstrated to overcome challenges. For example, "During difficult times, collaboration becomes even more crucial."

Common error

While "during difficult times" is appropriate, avoid overuse by employing synonyms such as "in challenging periods" or "amidst adversity" to add variety to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during difficult times" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when something occurs. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and provides numerous examples across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during difficult times" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that adds temporal context and highlights periods of adversity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse sources, including news, academic, and business contexts. The phrase suggests resilience, adaptation, and community support. While highly appropriate, it's also valuable to vary your writing by using alternatives such as "in challenging times" or "during trying times" to prevent redundancy. When using the phrase, emphasize the positive actions or qualities demonstrated to cope with the challenges to create compelling and impactful sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in challenging times

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the period. "In" is used instead of "during."

in tough times

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult", suggesting resilience and strength are needed. "In" is used instead of "during."

during trying times

Substitutes "difficult" with "trying", highlighting the stressful or testing aspects of the period.

when times are hard

This alternative is a more general statement indicating any period of hardship or adversity.

in times of hardship

Focuses on the "hardship" experienced, rather than simply stating the times are "difficult". "In" is used instead of "during."

during periods of adversity

Replaces "difficult times" with "periods of adversity", which is a more formal expression.

through hard times

Uses "through" instead of "during" to emphasize the act of enduring and overcoming the difficulties.

amidst hardship

Replaces "during difficult times" with a shorter, more literary phrase implying the situation is ongoing.

when facing adversity

Shifts the focus to the act of "facing" challenges, highlighting the active response to difficult situations.

under adverse conditions

This is a more formal and general way of referring to negative circumstances, not necessarily limited to time.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "during difficult times"?

You can use alternatives like "in challenging times", "in tough times", or "during trying times" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in difficult times" instead of "during difficult times"?

Yes, "in difficult times" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative to "during difficult times". Both phrases are used to refer to periods of hardship or adversity.

How does the meaning of "during difficult times" compare to "in times of prosperity"?

"During difficult times" refers to periods of hardship or adversity, while "in times of prosperity" refers to periods of wealth, success, and good fortune. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum of economic and social conditions.

What are some common themes associated with "during difficult times"?

Common themes associated with "during difficult times" include resilience, adaptation, community support, innovation, and the importance of maintaining hope and optimism.