is highly difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is highly difficult" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when emphasizing the level of difficulty of a task or situation, but it is more natural to use simpler expressions. Example: "The exam is highly difficult, and many students are struggling to pass it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Fabrication of an electronic device on an individual nanowire is highly difficult.

Nanoscale Research Letters

However, estimation of such system parameters is highly difficult in practice [28].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Hence, it is highly difficult to ensure the long-term guaranteed path from one node to the other node.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Yet, finding a balance of EC2 instances that also yielded a high utilization of each resource is highly difficult.

Journal of Cloud Computing

The caregiver role strain is today an increasing problem because of the population aging; moreover, its diagnosis is highly difficult.

Expert Systems with Applications

As for China, carbon source deficiency currently prevails, and a low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in wastewater treatment is highly difficult (Peng et al. 2009).

Applied Water Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

He suggested it would be "highly difficult, as difficult or more difficult than the original production".

The New Yorker

"My perception right now is the effects of calorie restriction are multiple," he said, "so I think it's highly difficult to find one, or two or three drugs that will mimic such a complex effect".

The New York Times - Magazine

Gasifier control seems to be highly difficult since it involves many variables and inherent nonlinearity.

Journal of Process Control

Exam questions were highly difficult with respect to the lecture given in the class and education program.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Since it was highly difficult to acquire the population for each cell, it was assumed that population locations complied with residential blocks.

Environmental Systems Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms to "difficult", such as "challenging", "complex", or "arduous", to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "is highly difficult" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your phrasing to maintain reader engagement. For example, use "presents a significant challenge" or "is exceptionally challenging".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is highly difficult" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's characteristic of being very challenging. The examples from Ludwig show its use across different contexts to emphasize the degree of difficulty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

13%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is highly difficult" serves to emphasize the significant level of challenge associated with something, as shown in the examples identified by Ludwig. While grammatically sound, the phrase tends to lean toward a neutral to formal register and is often found in scientific and news-related contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that while the phrase is correct, simpler alternatives might be preferable depending on the context. Therefore, while the phrase effectively conveys the intended meaning, writers should consider using synonyms or alternative sentence structures to improve stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is exceptionally challenging

Substitutes "highly difficult" with a stronger adjective 'exceptionally challenging'.

presents a significant challenge

Replaces the direct statement of difficulty with the concept of a 'challenge'.

is particularly arduous

Replaces 'highly difficult' with 'particularly arduous', suggesting a strenuous effort is required.

is fraught with difficulties

Highlights the 'difficulties' inherent in the task.

poses considerable problems

Focuses on the 'problems' that arise due to the difficulty.

is anything but simple

Conveys the difficulty by stating that it's 'anything but simple'.

requires substantial effort

Shifts the focus to the 'effort' needed due to the difficulty.

is no easy feat

Emphasizes the difficulty by stating it 'is no easy feat'.

is a tough task

Uses a more informal term 'tough task' to express difficulty.

is demanding

Replaces the phrase with the single adjective 'demanding', emphasizing the high requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "is highly difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "is highly difficult" to emphasize the level of challenge associated with a task or situation. For example: "Solving this equation is highly difficult."

What are some alternatives to "is highly difficult"?

Alternatives include "is very difficult", "is extremely challenging", or "presents a significant challenge", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is highly difficult"?

Yes, "is highly difficult" is grammatically correct, but it may sound somewhat formal or emphatic. Simpler alternatives might be more appropriate in some contexts.

Which is better, "is highly difficult" or "is very difficult"?

Both "is highly difficult" and "is very difficult" are grammatically sound. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis. "Is highly difficult" suggests a greater degree of difficulty than "is very difficult".