especially in difficult circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "especially in difficult circumstances" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize a particular point or situation that is more significant or challenging under tough conditions. Example: "Her resilience shines through especially in difficult circumstances, proving her strength and determination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To survive means to continue living, especially in difficult circumstances.

BBC

If public services and support can reach the most vulnerable in society, especially in difficult circumstances such as low intensity conflict, then processes, systems and relationships are established whereby lesser forms of vulnerability and their social impacts may also be addressed.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The message to get outdoors resonates in good times and bad," he adds, but is especially effective in difficult circumstances if presented in this manner: "The outdoors is an affordable way to experience nature and connect with family and friends".

The New York Times

After the screening, passionate young people expressed their views on the need to uphold the rights of migrant children, the importance of family values and support for adolescents, especially for those in difficult circumstances.

Unicef

Michael Bowling, the CPRG's head, says that although the ostensible goal was to build a winning poker program, the real aim was to "study how to build computers to make decisions in difficult circumstances, especially where there is missing information".It is this missing information that makes poker so complex.

The Economist

Shackleton was confident that Crean would persevere to the bitter end, and had great faith in Worsley's skills as a navigator, especially his ability to work out positions in difficult circumstances.

Wikipedia

This is always important, but especially so in communities where children live in difficult circumstances and for various reasons do not have access to nurturing and attentive caregivers; or where there are few positive media alternatives (where media present primarily negative images of caregivers who scold, fight or are abusive).

Unicef

F. Children in difficult circumstances Provide improved protection of children in especially difficult circumstances and tackle the root causes leading to such situations.

Unicef

Prof Les Ebdon, director of the Office for Fair Access to Higher Education watchdog, said: "I especially congratulate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have achieved excellent results, often in difficult circumstances.

The Guardian

The public, too, are naive in expecting politicians to tell the whole truth all of the time on major issues, especially when they are often faced with having to choose the lesser of two evils, in difficult circumstances.

The Guardian

"We are facing a great deal of uncertainty, especially around questions over funding by government," says Professor Lu. "But our job is to help businesses understand change and grow in difficult circumstances.

The Telegraph

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "especially in difficult circumstances" to highlight situations where certain qualities, actions, or considerations become more crucial or pronounced due to the presence of challenges. This phrase effectively emphasizes the significance of a particular aspect under pressure.

Common error

Avoid using "especially in difficult circumstances" when the situation isn't genuinely challenging. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic. Reserve it for scenarios where the difficulty genuinely amplifies the point you're making.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "especially in difficult circumstances" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It highlights a specific condition under which the action or state described becomes more relevant or significant. Ludwig examples illustrate this function across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "especially in difficult circumstances" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to emphasize the heightened importance or impact of a particular factor when challenges or hardships are present. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where the difficulty genuinely amplifies the point being made, avoiding overuse in simpler scenarios. Ludwig's analysis highlights its applicability across diverse professional contexts and underscores its effectiveness in conveying resilience and significance under pressure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly under challenging conditions

Replaces "especially" with "particularly" and "difficult circumstances" with "challenging conditions", altering the emphasis slightly.

notably during tough situations

Substitutes "especially" with "notably" and "difficult circumstances" with "tough situations", providing a more informal tone.

primarily in adverse conditions

Replaces "especially" with "primarily" and "difficult circumstances" with "adverse conditions", giving a more formal and slightly stronger sense of negativity.

significantly in trying times

Changes "especially" to "significantly" and "difficult circumstances" to "trying times", emphasizing the importance during periods of hardship.

mainly when facing hardships

Replaces "especially" with "mainly" and rephrases "difficult circumstances" as "facing hardships", focusing on the act of confronting difficulties.

particularly when things get tough

Uses a more informal expression, replacing "difficult circumstances" with "when things get tough".

especially when the going gets tough

Uses an idiom to replace the original phrase.

above all in tough times

Emphasizes the importance even more, by using "above all".

more so under pressure

Replaces the whole phrase with a shorter one.

particularly in demanding situations

Emphasizes how something can be considered demanding.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "especially in difficult circumstances" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "particularly in adverse conditions" or "primarily in challenging situations". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

Is there a more casual way to say "especially in difficult circumstances"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "especially when things get tough" or "mainly when facing hardships" for a more relaxed and conversational tone. These alternatives are suitable for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "especially in difficult circumstances" and "particularly in difficult circumstances"?

The difference is subtle. "Especially" suggests singling out a specific instance, while "particularly" indicates noting something specific. Both are often interchangeable, but "especially" may imply a slightly greater degree of emphasis in some contexts.

When is it most appropriate to use the phrase "especially in difficult circumstances"?

This phrase is best used when you want to emphasize that a particular action, quality, or consideration is heightened or becomes more critical due to the presence of challenging or adverse conditions. It's useful for highlighting resilience, importance, or necessity under pressure.