effort and difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "effort and difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or the level of work required to achieve something. Example: "The project required significant effort and difficulty, but the results were worth it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

From time to time, though, effort and difficulty are not the only thing that supposed advances threaten to sweep away: with them, if you're not careful, might go essential aspects of being human.

The Guardian

The technical ease with which the dancers execute many of the tasks is beautiful, and we marvel at their skill and clarity, whereas the untrained men have an immediacy to their movement where the effort and difficulty is clearly visible.

The New York Times - Arts

The mean performance, mental effort, and difficulty rating are shown by learning condition in Table 2.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Participants were asked to complete a mental effort and difficulty rating sheet after each example or problem.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Jobs had specifically referred to Facebook's terms when negotiating the Ping integration as "onerous," which means "involving a burdensome amount of effort and difficulty," according to Webster's.

TechCrunch

Every example, problem, and test was printed on A4 paper, as were the questions used to measure mental effort and difficulty.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

However, the construction of this region is subject to limits because of the large amount of computing effort and difficulties in analyzing and presenting results in the case that the dimension of the parameter space exceeds four.

Chemical Engineering Science

She talks about surprises the research group faced, progress in terms of organizations becoming more reliable, design principles for such organizations, the necessity for HROs, potential future research efforts and difficulties and obstacles in the research program.

European Management Journal

Truffaut taught himself, with great effort and great difficulty, to film with a second voice, to become exactly the kind of director that he admired and that Hitchcock exemplified: he placed his first-person confessional voice, and even his actual speaking voice, into conflict with the virtual voice of subtext and symbol.

The New Yorker

Yet, the Valsalva maneuver remains underutilized clinically, likely due to the inability to standardize the expiratory effort and the difficulties obtaining a continuous noninvasive surrogate of a pressure waveform conveniently [ 16].

BMC Nephrology

Lack of organizational oversight for CPI activities had also led to duplication of effort, mixed accountability, and difficulty in remaining focused on organizational goals.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "effort and difficulty", ensure that the context clearly indicates what task or situation requires such exertion and presents challenges. This provides clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "effort and difficulty" in vague contexts. Always specify what exactly requires the effort and presents the difficulty to make your writing more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "effort and difficulty" functions as a compound noun, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition to describe a challenging situation. According to Ludwig, this phrase is valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "effort and difficulty" is a valid phrase used to describe situations requiring significant work and posing considerable challenges. While grammatically correct and considered usable according to Ludwig, its frequency is uncommon. It frequently appears in scientific and news contexts. For more formal writing, consider using synonyms to convey specific nuances. Ensure that the context clearly identifies what necessitates the "effort and difficulty" to maximize clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

labor and hardship

Stresses the physical exertion and difficult conditions.

hard work and challenge

Emphasizes the labor and obstacles involved.

struggle and adversity

Focuses on the resistance and unfavorable conditions faced.

demanding task and impediments

Highlights the rigor of the work and whatever stands in your way.

toil and tribulation

Highlights the arduous nature and suffering associated with the task.

dedication and uphill battle

Focuses on the commitment needed to overcome a significant challenge.

exertion and complexity

Highlights the energy expended and the intricate nature of the task.

intensive work and complications

Stresses the demanding nature of the work and the arising issues.

endeavor and obstacle

Emphasizes the attempt made and the impediments encountered.

application and rigor

Highlights the dedication and thoroughness required, plus severity.

FAQs

How can I use "effort and difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "effort and difficulty" to describe a task or situation that requires significant work and presents challenges. For example: "The project required significant "effort and difficulty", but the results were worth it."

What are some alternatives to "effort and difficulty"?

Alternatives include "hard work and challenge", "toil and tribulation", or "struggle and adversity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use both "effort" and "difficulty"?

While "effort" and "difficulty" can overlap in meaning, they emphasize different aspects. "Effort" highlights the work invested, while "difficulty" highlights the challenges faced. Using both can provide a more comprehensive picture.

What's the difference between "effort and difficulty" and "hard work"?

"Hard work" generally refers to the labor or exertion required, while "effort and difficulty" encompasses both the labor and the obstacles that make the task challenging. "Effort and difficulty" implies a more complex and demanding situation than just "hard work".