have been difficult to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have been difficult to' is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used in the perfect aspect (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect, etc.) to describe something that has caused difficulty or has been challenging. For example: "The changes to the company's structure have been difficult to adjust to."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Solutions have been difficult to come by.

The New York Times - Sports

It must have been difficult to persevere?

The Guardian - Books

The more timid cats have been difficult to catch.

The New York Times

But wins have been difficult to come by lately.

The New York Times - Sports

It would have been difficult to prettify him.

The Guardian - Books

Ten years ago, it would have been difficult to find.

The New York Times

In other words, first impressions have been difficult to modify.

The New York Times

Details of the military operation have been difficult to confirm.

The Guardian

This year, those words would have been difficult to say.

The New Yorker

"I know the decision must have been difficult to make".

The New York Times

On paper, her sentences would have been difficult to diagram.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been difficult to", ensure the subject and verb agree in number and tense. This maintains grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid switching tenses mid-sentence when using "have been difficult to". Maintain a consistent tense throughout the sentence to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been difficult to" typically functions as part of a verb phrase, indicating that an action or situation has presented challenges. It's often used to describe obstacles encountered in various contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been difficult to" is a versatile expression used to convey challenges or obstacles encountered in various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It is particularly prevalent in scientific, academic, and news-related writing, indicating complexities and struggles. While alternatives like ""have proven challenging to"" and ""have presented obstacles to"" offer subtle variations in meaning, "have been difficult to" remains a widely understood and accepted way to express difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have proven challenging to

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the task.

have presented obstacles to

Shifts the focus to the obstacles encountered, highlighting the impediments faced.

have posed a challenge for

Uses a more active construction, indicating that something created difficulty.

have not been easy to

Simplifies the language, replacing "difficult" with "not easy" for a less formal tone.

have been problematic for

Focuses on the problems caused by something, rather than just the difficulty.

have been complicated to

Emphasizes the intricate nature of the situation, suggesting a complex difficulty.

have required considerable effort to

Highlights the amount of effort needed, indicating that the task was demanding.

have struggled to

Conveys a sense of ongoing effort and difficulty in achieving something.

have met with resistance in

Focuses on the opposition encountered, indicating that something faced difficulty due to resistance.

have failed to

Indicates an unsuccessful attempt, implying the difficulty was insurmountable.

FAQs

How can I use "have been difficult to" in a sentence?

You can use "have been difficult to" to describe tasks, situations, or concepts that presented challenges. For example, "These observations "have been difficult to explain"".

What are some alternatives to "have been difficult to"?

Alternatives include "have proven challenging to", "have presented obstacles to", or "have not been easy to" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "have been difficult to" or "were difficult to"?

The choice depends on the time frame. "Have been difficult to" implies the difficulty persists or has relevance to the present, while "were difficult to" refers to a difficulty solely in the past.

What's the difference between "have been difficult to" and "has been difficult to"?

"Have been difficult to" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "The problems have been difficult to solve"), whereas "has been difficult to" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The problem has been difficult to solve").