increased difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

"increased difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation that has become harder than before. For example, you could say, "The new tests we have been given this year have had an increased difficulty."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Risk factors include: suspiciousness, odd thinking or behavior, increased difficulty at work or school, withdrawal from loved ones, and changes in emotions.

Yale University

The increased difficulty of saving for retirement from continually changing benefits programs.

Harvard Business Review

Potential hedge fund investors will also experience increased difficulty in qualifying as accredited investors.

Columbia University

Though the company still met overall standards, the county said Rural/Metro "had increased difficulty in doing so".

The New York Times

As well as increased difficulty with conception, and fewer options when it comes to fertility treatments, there is a clear link between genetic disease and advanced paternal age.

The Guardian

As house prices and mortgage costs rise, the poor are experiencing increased difficulty in finding homes, not only to buy but also to rent.

The New York Times

Audacity builds on previous challenges and successes, in which confidence has been reinforced by every step forward and each problem addressed is one of increased difficulty.

Harvard Business Review

A common first encounter with Siri, Apple's virtual-assistant program: you lob her some easy questions and, satisfied with her replies, toss her requests of gradually increased difficulty.

The New Yorker

Our results show that women face increased difficulty in accessing bank financing, and specifically that women's entrepreneurship suffers heavily from the recent transformation among banks.

Harvard Business Review

Likely: Increased difficulty recruiting new employees.

Forbes

An increase in severity of illness reflects increased difficulty and costs involved in treating the patient.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increased difficulty", specify the area or task where the difficulty is rising to provide context and clarity for your reader.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "there was increased difficulty". Instead, quantify the difficulty if possible, such as "the increased difficulty in accessing bank financing" or "increased difficulty in performing tracheal intubation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increased difficulty" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, describing a state or situation where the level of difficulty has risen. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

27%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increased difficulty" is a versatile noun phrase widely used to denote a rise in the level of challenge or complexity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard grammar conventions and finds application across various domains, including academia, news, science, and formal business settings. Its communicative purpose is to inform and explain, and its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse audiences. When employing this phrase, be specific about the area experiencing the heightened difficulty. By quantifying, you provide clearer context for your reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heightened challenge

This phrase replaces "difficulty" with "challenge", emphasizing the stimulating or motivational aspect of the situation.

exacerbated difficulty

This alternative indicates that the difficulty is being made worse or more severe.

growing complexity

This alternative focuses on the increasing intricacy and complicated nature of the situation.

intensified complexity

This option stresses the amplification and deepening of the complex aspects.

mounting struggle

This phrase uses "struggle" to highlight the effort and resistance involved in overcoming the difficulty.

aggravated challenge

This phrase suggests that the challenge is not just increasing, but also becoming more irritating or frustrating.

greater hardship

This alternative emphasizes the adverse conditions and suffering caused by the increased difficulty.

compounded struggle

This phrase implies that the struggle is growing due to the addition of new factors or problems.

escalating adversity

This phrase focuses on the increasing unfavorable circumstances and misfortune.

enhanced adversity

This phrase presents the adversity as amplified and strengthened.

FAQs

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

You can use "increased difficulty" to describe a situation becoming more challenging, as in, "The students experienced "increased difficulty" with the new curriculum."

What's a good substitute for "increased difficulty"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "increased difficulty" include "heightened challenge", "growing complexity", or "mounting struggle".

Is it correct to say "increase difficulty" instead of "increased difficulty"?

"Increase difficulty" can be used as a verb phrase, while ""increased difficulty"" is a noun phrase. For instance, "We need to increase difficulty gradually" versus "The project faced increased difficulty".

What causes "increased difficulty" in language learning as we age?

Age-related factors such as decreased neuroplasticity and changes in cognitive function can contribute to "increased difficulty" in language acquisition.