intermediate difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intermediate difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a level of difficulty that is moderate or in between easy and difficult. Example: The final exam was of intermediate difficulty, challenging enough to test our knowledge but not impossible to pass.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The element connectivity problem (ELC-SNDP, or ELC) is a problem of intermediate difficulty.

Journal of Computer and System Sciences

Texts of intermediate difficulty are selected to permit the grader enough flexibility in evaluating varying levels of performance and ability.

Harvard University

Its twist was that the works were meant to be of intermediate difficulty, pieces for students seeking a way into the modern piano repertory.

The New York Times - Arts

For tasks of intermediate difficulty dynamic visualizations outperformed pictures presented in columns, matrices, and circles, but not the rows format.

Learning and Instruction

For tasks of intermediate difficulty, dynamic visualizations led to better classification performance than static-sequential visualizations, but not than static-simultaneous visualizations.

Learning and Instruction

IMPES is a scheme used for problems with intermediate difficulty and nonlinearity (e.g., two-phase incompressible flow) (Chen et al. 2006).

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

After initial assessment, the items were presented to a mathematics expert, who identified a lack of intermediate-difficulty items to assess multiplication and subtraction.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

The average difficulty of this task was intermediate (accuracy = 84%%).

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

Although this rate is considered intermediate, the difficulty is the growing threat of drug resistance.

BMC Genomics

We examined two rating scale alternatives, one combining the two intermediate options ("some difficulty" and "much difficulty") whilst the other combined the two options reflecting greatest difficulty ("much difficulty" and "unable to do").

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The use of leuco-dye intermediates overcomes difficulties with reactivity and solubility, allowing the preparation of these valuable molecules with reaction conditions accessible to any organic chemistry laboratory.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assessing the "intermediate difficulty" of a task, consider the prior experience and skill level of the target audience. Tailor your description to match their perspective.

Common error

Avoid using vague terms like "sort of hard" or "kind of challenging" when "intermediate difficulty" provides a clearer and more professional assessment of the task's complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intermediate difficulty" primarily functions as a descriptor, specifying the level of complexity or challenge associated with a task, skill, or problem. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intermediate difficulty" is a valuable descriptor for tasks or skills that require a moderate level of expertise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely accepted. Its neutral to formal register makes it appropriate for a range of contexts, particularly in science, news, and academia. When using this phrase, consider the target audience's skill level to ensure accurate assessment. For situations requiring alternative phrasing, options like "moderate challenge" or "manageable complexity" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderate challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge", suggesting a task that requires effort but is not overly strenuous.

medium difficulty level

Substitutes "intermediate" with "medium" and adds "level" for emphasis, clarifying the degree of complexity.

average difficulty

Uses "average" to indicate a standard or typical level of difficulty, suitable for general skills.

manageable complexity

Focuses on the aspect of complexity while highlighting its controllability.

moderate complexity

Mirrors "intermediate difficulty" but uses "complexity" instead of "difficulty".

mid-level challenge

Synonymous to "intermediate difficulty" with focus on challenge.

moderately challenging

Changes the structure to an adverb-adjective combination, describing the characteristic of being challenging to a moderate extent.

somewhat difficult

Uses "somewhat" to soften the description of "difficult", implying a level slightly below fully difficult.

fairly challenging

Emphasizes that the task or problem is reasonably demanding, but not overwhelmingly so.

within reach

Implies that although the task is difficult, it is possible to achieve with effort.

FAQs

How can I describe something that's neither too easy nor too hard?

Use the phrase "intermediate difficulty". It clearly conveys that a task or skill requires some effort but is not overly challenging. Other options include "moderate challenge" or "medium difficulty level".

Is "intermediate difficulty" the same as "average difficulty"?

While similar, "intermediate difficulty" suggests a task is between easy and hard, while "average difficulty" implies it aligns with the norm for a specific group or skill level. Choose the phrase that best fits your intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "intermediate difficulty" for a more positive spin?

You could use "manageable complexity" or "fairly challenging" to emphasize that the difficulty is within reach. These phrases highlight the positive aspect of overcoming a challenge without being overwhelming.

How do I use "intermediate difficulty" in a sentence?

You can say, "This course is designed for students with "intermediate difficulty" in the subject matter". This indicates the course is suitable for those who have some existing knowledge but are not yet experts.