gets more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

'gets more difficult' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an example of the verb phrase 'get + adjective'. You can use it when you are talking about a task or situation becoming more challenging. For example: As the course progresses, the content gets more difficult.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It fluctuates and gets more difficult".

Independent

But environmental accounting gets more difficult.

The New York Times - Magazine

As traveling gets more difficult, I find ships the easiest.

The New York Times - Travel

"It gets more difficult every year," Redknapp said.

The New York Times - Sports

And every day gets more difficult to work with Congress.

The Washington Post

.Working on details is most challenging because it gets more difficult as I get older.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But since 1988, as the oil gets more difficult to pump, production has been declining.

The Economist

Trevor Benjamin says that as the application gets more complicated, achieving the correct level of compromise also gets more difficult.

World Pumps

The case is as yet unproven, but the issue gets more difficult by the day.

The Guardian

Might as well do it now than later when it gets more difficult".

The New York Times

Hounier added: "More children are joining and it gets more difficult to get them back.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gets more difficult" to describe a situation where a task or process is becoming increasingly challenging over time. This phrase effectively communicates a gradual increase in complexity or hardship.

Common error

Avoid using "gets more difficult" when describing a situation that is inherently difficult from the start. This phrase implies a change over time, so it's not appropriate for static or unchanging challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gets more difficult" functions as a verb phrase indicating a progressive increase in the level of challenge or complexity. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and widely used in English. It describes a dynamic process where a situation or task transitions to a state of greater difficulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gets more difficult" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a progressive increase in the level of challenge or complexity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While versatile, it's important to use it when referring to a change over time, rather than a static state. Alternatives like "becomes more challenging" or "grows more complex" can be used to add nuance, but the core meaning remains consistent: something is becoming increasingly hard to manage or accomplish.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes more challenging

Replaces "gets" with "becomes" and "difficult" with "challenging", offering a slightly more formal tone.

grows more complex

Shifts the focus to complexity rather than difficulty, implying increased intricacy.

becomes increasingly hard

Substitutes "difficult" with "hard" and adds "increasingly" for emphasis on the gradual nature of the change.

presents more obstacles

Focuses on the emergence of obstacles as the main difficulty, changing the sentence structure.

poses greater challenges

Emphasizes the challenges posed, altering the grammatical structure of the sentence.

turns more complicated

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated", suggesting increasing intricacy and confusion.

becomes more problematic

Highlights the increase in problems associated with a situation, shifting the focus slightly.

is getting harder

Uses a continuous tense and a simpler adjective, making the statement more conversational.

is increasingly tough

Employs "tough" for "difficult" and "increasingly" to denote a gradual rise in difficulty.

presents more adversity

Substitutes "difficult" with "adversity", altering the focus towards hardship and struggle.

FAQs

How can I use "gets more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "gets more difficult" to describe a process or task that is increasing in complexity or challenge. For example: "As the project progressed, troubleshooting "gets more difficult"".

What are some alternatives to "gets more difficult"?

Alternatives include "becomes more challenging", "grows more complex", or "becomes increasingly hard", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "got more difficult" instead of "gets more difficult"?

Yes, "got more difficult" is the past tense form and is correct when referring to something that became more difficult in the past. "Gets more difficult" is used for ongoing or habitual situations.

What's the difference between "gets more difficult" and "is more difficult"?

"Gets more difficult" implies a change over time, indicating that something is becoming increasingly challenging. "Is more difficult" simply states that something is currently difficult, without necessarily implying a change.