excessive difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is overly challenging or hard to manage. Example: "The project was abandoned due to the excessive difficulty of the requirements set by the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A recent examination of the test norms revealed a significant age related floor effect already emerging on Faces I (immediate recall), implying excessive difficulty in the acquisition phase among unimpaired older adults.

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

A common complaint was Cauldrons excessive difficulty.

Wikipedia

Matt Barton and Bill Loguidice of Gamasutra stated the audio-visuals and gameplay's depth balanced the excessive difficulty.

Wikipedia

He called the graphics "colorful" and "well-animated", and felt that the game was of good value despite an excessive difficulty.

Wikipedia

Be especially careful and sensitive to behaviors involving sleeping and crying (and don't become angry when the child has excessive difficulty sleeping or trouble stopping themselves from crying).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Lack of roads and excessive difficulties in building them throughout the district were major problems of the [Churchbridge] council as a resolution as passed and forwarded to the Provincial Government indicate.

Wikipedia

This phenomenon may underlie the inverse relationship between excessive task difficulty and performance.

Biological Psychology

In Shrimad Bhagavatam, an epic written by Maharshi Ved Vyasa around 400 BC, the character of King Kansha develops generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms upon being threatened by Lord Krishna; the symptoms included excessive worry, difficulty in concentration, and sleep disturbances".

Vice

Other symptoms include lethargy, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, vomiting (with or without blood), abdominal pain, increased body temperature, and black, tarry feces, which is a sign of bleeding in the upper GI tract.

Huffington Post

Deviation from such a pattern could suggest flaws in content design, excessive course difficulty or other inefficacies in teaching and learning methodologies.

BMC Medical Education

Clinical manifestations of CWD include weight loss over weeks or months, behavioral changes, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, polydipsia, and polyuria (1, 6– 8).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive difficulty", ensure that you provide context about what specifically is causing the difficulty. This makes your writing more precise and informative.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive difficulty" when a simpler term like "hard" or "challenging" would suffice. Overusing "excessive" can weaken your writing and make it sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

Adjective-noun phrase. The phrase "excessive difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "difficulty". This phrase typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, describing the degree of challenge presented by a task or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

44%

Science

33%

News & Media

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive difficulty" is a valid and useful expression to denote a situation or task that presents an unreasonable level of challenge. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears in a variety of contexts, including academic, scientific, and general media. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys a sense of burden and complexity. When using "excessive difficulty", ensure the context clearly indicates the source and impact of the difficulty. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives such as "extreme challenge" or "undue hardship".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme challenge

Emphasizes the intensity of the difficulty; uses "challenge" instead of "difficulty".

undue hardship

Focuses on the burdensome aspect of the difficulty.

inordinate struggle

Highlights the effort required to overcome the difficulty.

unreasonable complexity

Shifts the focus to the complicated nature causing the difficulty.

extreme adversity

Frames the difficulty as a form of hardship or opposition.

unmanageable obstacle

Presents the difficulty as a barrier that is hard to overcome.

significant impediment

Highlights the hindering effect of the difficulty.

major setback

Focuses on the regressive nature of the difficulty.

overwhelming complication

Emphasizes that the difficulty is a complex problem that is hard to solve.

severe complication

Highlights the severity and complexity of the difficulty.

FAQs

What does "excessive difficulty" mean?

"Excessive difficulty" refers to a situation, task, or problem that is overly challenging, complicated, or burdensome, often to an unreasonable degree.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "excessive difficulty" in writing?

Use "excessive difficulty" when you want to emphasize that something is not just difficult, but unreasonably or disproportionately so, creating significant obstacles. Consider alternatives such as "extreme challenge" or "undue hardship".

How can I avoid overusing the term "excessive difficulty"?

To avoid overuse, assess whether the situation truly warrants such a strong term. Simpler terms like "challenging" or "complicated" might be more appropriate. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms such as "inordinate struggle" or "unreasonable complexity".

What are some common causes of "excessive difficulty" in project management?

Common causes include unclear requirements, inadequate resources, unrealistic deadlines, and poor communication. Addressing these issues can mitigate the "major setback" caused by "excessive difficulty".