immense difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'immense difficulty' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe a situation or challenge that is extremely difficult or troublesome. For example, "The project had an immense difficulty, and we had to innovate new technologies to overcome it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"We are faced with the immense difficulty, if not the impossibility, of verifying the past.

The New Yorker

But lawmakers have had immense difficulty agreeing on Medicare drug benefits.

The New York Times

Together, they opened a ride at Alton Towers Bernsteinn recalled a windy day and immense difficulty with her wig).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But certain things we humans do almost effortlessly, recognizing everyday objects, for example, an artificial intelligence has immense difficulty doing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Apart from any other consideration, we are faced with the immense difficulty, if not the impossibility of verifying the past.

The Guardian

Partly, that's because of one further complication in the game: the immense difficulty of actually evaluating a move.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

But he also faces immense difficulties.

The Economist

Even the phrasing of the "acknowledgment of traditional lands" raises immense difficulties of basic meaning.

The New Yorker

"Europe will be democratic or it will have immense difficulties surviving".

The Guardian

The masterwork of John Augustus Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge was built (1869 83) in the face of immense difficulties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, hopes of rapid progress have been dashed and holding any polls at all poses immense difficulties.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a complex problem, use "immense difficulty" to emphasize the significant challenge it presents. For instance, "Navigating the regulatory landscape posed an immense difficulty for the startup."

Common error

Avoid using "immense difficulty" when describing minor inconveniences. Save the phrase for scenarios where the challenge is genuinely substantial to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immense difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition to describe the significant level of challenge involved in a particular situation or task. Ludwig highlights its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "immense difficulty" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe situations involving significant challenges. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for formal and neutral registers, particularly in contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedias. When writing, it's best to reserve "immense difficulty" for scenarios where the challenge is genuinely substantial. Related phrases like "formidable difficulty" and "considerable difficulty" can be used as alternatives. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms that the phrase effectively conveys the severity and complexity of a problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formidable difficulty

Replaces "immense" with "formidable", suggesting a challenge that inspires respect or fear due to its size or power.

considerable difficulty

Substitutes "immense" with "considerable", indicating a substantial level of difficulty.

vast difficulty

Replaces "immense" with "vast", emphasizing the great extent or scale of the difficulty.

major difficulty

Uses "major" instead of "immense", denoting a significant or principal difficulty.

overwhelming difficulty

Replaces "immense" with "overwhelming", suggesting the difficulty is so great it's hard to manage.

severe difficulty

Substitutes "immense" with "severe", implying the difficulty is very serious or intense.

extreme difficulty

Replaces "immense" with "extreme", denoting the highest degree of difficulty.

tremendous difficulty

Substitutes "immense" with "tremendous", indicating a remarkably great or large difficulty.

great difficulty

Replaces "immense" with "great", expressing a high degree of difficulty in a more general way.

huge difficulty

Uses "huge" instead of "immense", implying a difficulty of very large size or extent.

FAQs

How can I use "immense difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "immense difficulty" to describe situations with significant challenges. For instance, "The team faced immense difficulty in securing funding for the project".

What can I say instead of "immense difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "formidable difficulty", "considerable difficulty", or "extreme difficulty" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "immense difficulty" or "great difficulty"?

Both "immense difficulty" and "great difficulty" are correct, but "immense difficulty" suggests a higher degree of challenge than "great difficulty".

What are some common situations where "immense difficulty" is appropriately used?

"Immense difficulty" is fitting when describing challenges in areas like scientific research, international relations, or large-scale engineering projects where obstacles are exceptionally high.