felt difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "felt difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something was perceived as challenging or hard to accomplish in the past. Example: "During the exam, I felt difficult to concentrate due to the noise in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Everything felt difficult.

The New Yorker

A quick glance into the boxes and it felt difficult to breathe.

The New York Times

O'Neill has been at Sunderland for less than 12 months, and only the past few weeks, despite the length of a bad run results-wise, has felt difficult; a period in which he has had to forcibly remind people of his achievements, and his desire.

Independent

Warwickshire batsman Ian Westwood: "It felt difficult batting out there.

BBC

In addition, the average number of posts made by the children who felt difficult was 3.75 while that by those who felt easy was 3.5.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Initially the plan I had started with at Bang, along with the pace, felt difficult but doable.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"First runs can feel difficult and make you not want to go out again, but know that won't last forever and eventually that will become easier".

Independent

If tonight's match feels difficult and disconcerting for the Republic of Ireland, it will not just be because of the German opposition.

Independent

He remains positive and sometimes it does feel difficult to remain hopeful for the future health of the planet and its wonderful abundance of life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"We talked to teachers and kids, and they were looking for that first step to demystify programming and not make it feel difficult".

The Guardian - Tech

The ardent Kees scholar Dana Gioia has edited a selection of forty-three tandsketchesetches, all of which give off a sour particularity that feels difficult to shake.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing personal experiences or subjective feelings, "felt difficult" effectively conveys the perceived level of challenge. Use it to express that something was challenging based on your own perception.

Common error

Avoid using "felt difficult" when describing an objective fact or general truth. It's more appropriate for subjective feelings. For objective difficulties, use "was difficult" or "is difficult."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "felt difficult" functions primarily as a verb phrase describing a past subjective experience of difficulty. Ludwig AI shows that it often modifies a verb or gerund, expressing the perceived challenge in performing an action or experiencing a situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "felt difficult" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express a subjective experience of difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile enough for use in various contexts, from describing personal feelings to challenges encountered in specific tasks. While suitable for general use, remember that there are more formal alternatives, such as "seemed challenging", for professional or academic writing. It's important to use "felt difficult" when expressing a personal feeling rather than an objective truth. Pay attention to the tense; "felt difficult" refers to a past experience. By following these guidelines, you can use "felt difficult" effectively and avoid common mistakes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was quite tough

Emphasizes the intensity of the difficulty, suggesting a high level of challenge.

seemed challenging

Replaces "felt difficult" with a slightly more formal synonym, focusing on the perception of the task's difficulty.

turned out to be hard

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the difficulty, suggesting it wasn't initially anticipated.

presented challenges

Shifts the focus to the challenges posed by a situation, rather than the feeling of difficulty.

was something of a struggle

Highlights the effort and resistance involved in overcoming the difficulty.

proved arduous

Indicates a task was not only difficult but also required significant effort and endurance.

proved to be taxing

Focuses on the depleting and burdensome nature of the difficult experience.

was rather trying

Highlights the stressful and testing nature of the experience.

was a bit of a hurdle

Presents the difficulty as an obstacle that needed to be overcome.

seemed problematic

Indicates the difficulty arose from specific problems or obstacles encountered.

FAQs

How can I use "felt difficult" in a sentence?

Use "felt difficult" to describe a past experience where something was perceived as challenging or hard. For example, "I felt difficult to concentrate during the exam because of the noise."

What's a more formal alternative to "felt difficult"?

If you're looking for a more formal phrase, you could use "seemed challenging" or "proved arduous". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it correct to say "I felt it difficult"?

Yes, "I felt it difficult" is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning as "felt difficult". Both phrases are used to express that something was perceived as challenging.

What's the difference between "felt difficult" and "was difficult"?

"Felt difficult" emphasizes a subjective feeling or personal perception of difficulty, whereas "was difficult" is a more objective statement about the difficulty of something. For instance, "I felt difficult to understand the lecture" expresses personal experience, while "The lecture was difficult" is a general statement.