increasingly difficult to manage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasingly difficult to manage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or task that is becoming more challenging over time. Example: "As the project progressed, it became increasingly difficult to manage the team's expectations and deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Managers found it increasingly difficult to manage far-flung service operations in cultures they did not understand, and firms began to bring some functions back to their home base especially call centres, where customers often found it difficult to explain localised problems to someone working in a totally different climate in a totally different time zone.

The Economist

She is extremely intoxicated, and becomes increasingly difficult to manage.

The New Yorker

He stopped speaking and became increasingly difficult to manage.

The New York Times

Offshore detention centres become increasingly difficult to manage, as is happening now.

The Guardian - Opinion

His exit strategy is becoming increasingly difficult to manage even though there is tacit acknowledgement that the time has come.

The Guardian - Sport

The problem with this Kafkaesque undertaking, of course, was that it became increasingly difficult to manage the flood of material.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It has become increasingly difficult to do that.

The Guardian

It's increasingly difficult to wield manpower at any scale.

TechCrunch

Paradox began his stud career, during which he became increasingly bad-tempered and difficult to manage, at a fee of 30 guineas.

Wikipedia

ADHD may also make the child appear disruptive or difficult to manage if CBT is offered in a group format (increasingly favored to contain costs).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Water is fiendishly difficult to manage.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasingly difficult to manage", ensure the subject you are describing is something that is actively being managed or overseen. It implies an ongoing effort that is encountering growing challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly difficult to manage" for situations that are simply complex or challenging, but not actively being managed. For instance, while global warming is a complex issue, it's more accurate to say efforts to mitigate it are "increasingly difficult to manage" rather than saying global warming itself is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly difficult to manage" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It describes something whose management is progressively becoming more challenging. Ludwig provides examples where it refers to managing projects, resources, and even personal issues.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increasingly difficult to manage" is a versatile descriptor used to articulate a growing challenge in overseeing or controlling something. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific literature. Alternatives such as "progressively harder to handle" or "becoming more challenging to oversee" can offer subtle nuances, but the core meaning remains consistent. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is best suited for situations where active management is in place and facing escalating difficulties, maintaining a neutral tone appropriate for both formal and informal communication. It is crucial to ensure the subject being described is actively managed rather than simply complex.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressively harder to handle

This alternative emphasizes the gradual increase in difficulty. It focuses on the act of handling rather than managing.

becoming more challenging to oversee

This phrase highlights the supervisory aspect of management and the escalating challenges involved.

growing in complexity to control

This alternative emphasizes the growing complexity and the act of control.

presenting escalating management issues

This phrase focuses on the problems that arise and how they are increasing.

posing greater administrative hurdles

This alternative refers specifically to administrative difficulties that are becoming more significant.

proving more unwieldy to administer

This alternative emphasizes the practical difficulties in administering or governing something.

developing greater operational complexities

This alternative focuses on complexities arising within the operations.

becoming exponentially harder to oversee

This implies an exponential increase in the difficulty, highlighting a very rapid growth in challenges.

transforming into a higher-maintenance process

This alternative shifts focus from abstract 'management' to a 'process' requiring more active input.

requiring intensified management efforts

This focuses on the need for increased effort in the management process.

FAQs

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

You can use "increasingly difficult to manage" to describe situations, projects, or resources that are becoming more challenging to oversee or control over time. For example: "As the company grew, its supply chain became "increasingly difficult to manage"".

What are some alternatives to "increasingly difficult to manage"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "progressively harder to handle", "becoming more challenging to oversee", or "presenting escalating management issues" as alternatives to "increasingly difficult to manage".

Is it better to say "more and more difficult to manage" or "increasingly difficult to manage"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "increasingly difficult to manage" is generally more concise and conveys the same meaning effectively. "More and more difficult to manage" can sometimes sound repetitive.

What makes something "increasingly difficult to manage"?

Factors such as growing complexity, lack of resources, changing circumstances, or increased stakeholder involvement can all contribute to making something "increasingly difficult to manage".