further complicating matters

USAGE SUMMARY

'further complicating matters' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that something has made a situation more difficult, or added additional complexity. For example: "Our plans had already been thrown into disarray when the pandemic hit, further complicating matters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Inflation tumbles, too, further complicating matters.

The Economist

Further complicating matters, whole-wheat flour is often temperamental.

The New York Times - Magazine

Further complicating matters is the uncertainty surrounding America's detention policy.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters is the accounting for lease renewals.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters is the city's tradition of community activism.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters, many federal programs require applicants to be federally-recognized tribes.

The Guardian

Further complicating matters was Mr. Taylor's decision to feature New Orleans musicians.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters was the dissolution of Haiti's bicameral legislature earlier this month.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters is the question of how much alcohol it takes to cause harm.

The New York Times - Science

Further complicating matters, the authorities said, has been difficulty of interviewing Abigail.

The New York Times

Further complicating matters is the arrival of his wife's former boyfriend.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "further complicating matters" to smoothly transition into an additional difficulty or complexity within your writing. It works best when the reader is already aware of an existing problem or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "further complicating matters" when introducing the primary complexity of a situation. It's designed to build upon existing challenges, not establish them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "further complicating matters" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause or sentence to indicate an additional element that increases the difficulty or complexity of a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "further complicating matters" is a versatile phrase used to introduce additional complexity to an existing situation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across different types of sources, particularly in News & Media. It serves to highlight incremental difficulties rather than establishing initial problems. This expression has a neutral formality, and its correct use can enhance the clarity and sophistication of writing, provided it is appropriately contextualized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

further complicating decisions

Focuses specifically on decisions being made more complex.

further confounding matters

Emphasizes the confusion added to the situation.

further complicating factors

Highlights that specific factors are adding complexity.

further complicating situations

Indicates that the overall situation is becoming more complex.

further complicating issues

Specifies that particular issues are being made more complex.

further complicating the issue

Singular form, emphasizing a single issue's complexity.

further complicating the question

Highlights that a question is becoming more complex to answer.

further complicate matters

Verb form, directly suggesting an action that adds complexity.

further complicating things

Uses a more general term 'things' instead of 'matters'.

further complicated matters

Past tense, suggesting complexity has already been added.

FAQs

How to use "further complicating matters" in a sentence?

Use "further complicating matters" to introduce an additional element of difficulty to an already complex situation. For example: "The budget cuts were already severe; "further complicating matters", a key funding source was unexpectedly withdrawn."

What can I say instead of "further complicating matters"?

You can use alternatives like "further confounding matters", "further complicating factors", or "further complicating issues" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "further complicating matters"?

It is appropriate when you need to introduce an additional layer of complexity to a situation that is already understood to be challenging. It signals an incremental increase in difficulty rather than introducing the initial problem.

Is "further complicating matters" formal or informal?

"Further complicating matters" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone than the phrase itself. You can find its uses across news, encyclopedias and scientific articles.