embark on a difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "embark on a difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to starting a challenging journey, project, or task. Example: "They decided to embark on a difficult journey to climb the highest mountain in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Jamaica-born commissioner said that Canada still needed to embark on a difficult national conversation on discrimination against First Nations.

The Guardian

Or the board, by sticking to its guns, could continue to weather protests, risk that disaffected professors would make good on threats to leave the university, and embark on a difficult search for a new president.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In 1993 Belarus embarked on a difficult transitional path to economic reform that was highlighted by significant drops in output and labour productivity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Rose has embarked on a difficult political maneuver, since the proposal enjoys qualified support from some quarters but faces implacable antagonism from others, all of this against a backdrop of relative public indifference.

The New York Times

A major deterrent to expanding the use of renewable energy is the prohibitive capital cost.With support from the IMF and other multilateral institutions we have embarked on a difficult economic-reform programme aimed at putting the country's fiscal house in order.

The Economist

Mr Monti has not merely pushed through a tough budget, but he is also embarking on a difficult, if overdue, set of liberalising and structural reforms to open up sheltered parts of the economy to competition.Grow and carry the people with youIt is growth, or rather the lack of it, that is Italy's weakness.

The Economist

Travelling by foot, Guevara embarked on a difficult 7-week march only travelling at night to avoid ambush, and often not eating for several days.

Wikipedia

Why embark on such a difficult and laborious journey?

BioEssays

He wasn't to know it then, in that moment of hopeful contemplation, but he was about to embark on a long and difficult year with Ireland: Everyone is lost in the euphoria.

The Guardian - Sport

Before embarking on a potentially difficult search for an appropriate immunoprecipitating RBM3 antibody, we employed a motif-searching bioinformatics approach to see whether RBM3 binding sites were enriched in the protected transcript subset.

eLife

While some psychics complain that Mr. Edward is selling out and charging too much money ($300 for a 30-minute private session), Mr. Edward says the high-profile life on which he is embarking is a difficult one.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "embark on a difficult", ensure the context clearly establishes the nature of the challenge. This adds weight and significance to the action being undertaken.

Common error

Avoid using "embark on a difficult" for trivial tasks. Reserve this phrase for situations that genuinely present significant challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "embark on a difficult" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the commencement of an activity or project characterized by its inherent challenges. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "embark on a difficult" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signals the commencement of a challenging undertaking. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts, it serves to highlight the demanding nature of the activity being initiated. While various alternatives exist, such as "undertake a challenging task" or "begin a tough journey", it's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations genuinely presenting significant hurdles to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undertake a challenging task

Replaces "embark" with "undertake" and uses "challenging" instead of "difficult", focusing on the task itself.

begin a tough journey

Uses simpler words like "begin" and "tough" and emphasizes the "journey" aspect.

initiate a complex project

Substitutes "embark" with "initiate" and highlights the "complex" nature of the "project".

commence a demanding endeavor

Employs more formal vocabulary like "commence" and "endeavor", emphasizing the demanding nature.

set out on an arduous path

Focuses on the "path" aspect and uses "arduous" to describe the difficulty.

launch a problematic venture

Replaces the original phrasing with a focus on the 'problematic' nature of the 'venture'.

tackle a formidable undertaking

Expresses starting a difficult task as 'tackling', highlighting the 'formidable' challenge.

plunge into a trying situation

Conveys getting involved in a tough scenario as 'plunging', reflecting the 'trying' or testing nature.

venture into a complicated matter

Indicates diving into a complex topic as 'venturing', focusing on the 'complicated' aspect of the matter.

start a strenuous activity

Expresses commencing a tough task as 'starting', emphasizing the 'strenuous' or physically challenging nature.

FAQs

How can I use "embark on a difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "embark on a difficult" to describe starting a challenging project or journey, such as: "The company decided to "embark on a difficult" restructuring process to improve its financial stability."

What are some alternatives to "embark on a difficult"?

Alternatives include phrases like "undertake a challenging task", "begin a tough journey", or "initiate a complex project", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "embark on a difficult"?

It's appropriate when describing the commencement of something that is expected to be genuinely challenging, requiring significant effort and resources.

Is there a difference between "embark on a difficult" and "embark on a challenging"?

While both "difficult" and "challenging" imply a degree of hardship, "difficult" often suggests a greater degree of complexity or resistance, whereas "challenging" might imply an opportunity for growth and learning.