increasingly difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"increasingly difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that becomes more and more challenging over time. For example, "As the school year progresses, the assignments have become increasingly difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

IT'S becoming increasingly difficult.

The Economist

Foreign affairs became increasingly difficult.

Independent

This is becoming increasingly difficult.

The Economist

This is proving increasingly difficult.

The Economist

It's becoming increasingly difficult.

The Guardian - Tech

This was increasingly difficult.

The New York Times - Books

That's likely to be increasingly difficult.

The New York Times

(Solid information is increasingly difficult to get).

The New Yorker

"Shaking this recession is becoming increasingly difficult".

The New York Times

Such encounters are becoming increasingly difficult.

The New York Times - Books

The policy is increasingly difficult to enforce.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasingly difficult", ensure the context clearly establishes what is becoming more challenging. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Ensure that the subject which is "increasingly difficult" is clear. Avoid vague pronoun references like 'it' without proper context. For instance, instead of saying "It's increasingly difficult", specify what 'it' refers to such as "The project is increasingly difficult".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly difficult" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or situation to indicate a growing level of challenge. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. For instance, "It's becoming increasingly difficult".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increasingly difficult" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a situation that is becoming more challenging over time. Ludwig confirms that it is appropriate for use in written English. Analysis of example sentences reveals that it is most frequently found in news and media sources, but also appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly specify what is becoming more difficult to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "steadily harder" or "progressively challenging", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. "Increasingly difficult" effectively communicates the augmentation of a challenge, making it a versatile and valuable phrase in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steadily harder

Focuses on the continuous nature of the increasing difficulty.

progressively challenging

Emphasizes the forward progression of the difficulty.

ever more troublesome

Highlights the problematic aspect of the increasing difficulty.

growing in complexity

Shifts the focus to the increasing complexity of the situation.

becoming more complicated

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the increasing complexity.

getting tougher

Offers a more informal way to express increasing difficulty.

mounting in hardship

Emphasizes the increasing hardship or suffering involved.

posing greater challenges

Focuses on the challenges presented by the increasingly difficult situation.

becoming a greater struggle

Highlights the increasing effort required to overcome the difficulty.

reaching new levels of complexity

Emphasizes that complexity is reaching unprecedented new levels.

FAQs

How can I use "increasingly difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "increasingly difficult" to describe a situation that is becoming more challenging over time. For example, "As the project progressed, the tasks became "increasingly difficult"".

What are some alternatives to saying "increasingly difficult"?

Alternatives include "steadily harder", "progressively challenging", or "ever more troublesome", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "increasingly difficult"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Increasingly" is an adverb modifying the adjective "difficult", indicating a growing degree of difficulty.

What's the difference between "increasingly difficult" and "more and more difficult"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "increasingly difficult" suggests a gradual and continuous increase in difficulty, whereas "more and more difficult" can imply a more sudden or abrupt change.