is pretty difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is pretty difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is quite challenging or hard to accomplish. Example: "The exam was tough, and I found that the last question is pretty difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

David: Managing people is pretty difficult.

The New York Times

It is pretty difficult to make a nuclear weapon.

The Guardian

Promoting consistency within a diverse community is pretty difficult.

The Guardian - Opinion

Again, this is pretty difficult to do quickly without making a few errors.

Independent

"It is pretty difficult to play Wimbledon, go home and come back to clay".

The New York Times - Sports

"The way I like to move it, in heavy winds is pretty difficult," Watson said.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"That's pretty difficult to do".

The New York Times - Sports

It's pretty difficult to hit".

The New York Times - Sports

"The last two kilometers are pretty difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

And those errors can be pretty difficult to hunt down.

Yale University

"It was pretty difficult," he says of his abrupt departure.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a formal audience or academic context, consider more precise language such as "is considerably challenging" or "presents significant difficulties".

Common error

Avoid using "is pretty difficult" excessively in formal or professional contexts, as it can come across as too casual. Opt for more precise and sophisticated vocabulary to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is pretty difficult" functions as an adjective phrase that describes a subject as being moderately challenging or complex. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is pretty difficult" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that presents a moderate level of challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage, particularly in News & Media and Academic contexts. While versatile, it's best to avoid overusing it in formal writing, opting instead for more sophisticated vocabulary to maintain a professional tone. Remember to consider the specific context and audience when choosing the most appropriate way to express difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is rather challenging

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "pretty" with "rather", indicating a similar level of complexity or effort involved.

is somewhat complicated

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated" and "pretty" with "somewhat", suggesting a moderate degree of intricacy.

is quite demanding

Uses "demanding" instead of "difficult" and "quite" instead of "pretty", emphasizing the effort and requirements involved.

is reasonably problematic

Employs "problematic" to highlight the issues involved, while using "reasonably" in place of "pretty" to soften the assertion.

presents considerable difficulty

Rephrases the statement to focus on the difficulty as a characteristic of the task, using "considerable" for emphasis.

is fairly arduous

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous" and "pretty" with "fairly", emphasizing the demanding and tiring nature of the task.

is seriously tough

Emphasizes the intensity of the difficulty by using "tough" instead of "difficult" and "seriously" instead of "pretty".

is notably complex

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex" and "pretty" with "notably", drawing attention to the intricate nature of the subject.

poses a significant challenge

Changes the structure to highlight the challenge aspect, using "significant" to indicate the importance of the difficulty.

involves a high degree of skill

Shifts the focus to the level of skill needed, indirectly implying the difficulty through the requirement of expertise.

FAQs

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

You can use "is pretty difficult" to describe tasks or situations that are moderately challenging. For example, "Learning a new language "is pretty difficult", but rewarding".

What phrases are similar to "is pretty difficult"?

Alternatives include "is rather challenging", "is somewhat complicated", or "is quite demanding", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "is pretty difficult"?

"Is pretty difficult" is suitable for informal and conversational settings. In formal or academic writing, consider more precise alternatives.

What's the difference between "is pretty difficult" and "is very difficult"?

"Is pretty difficult" suggests a moderate level of difficulty, whereas "is very difficult" indicates a higher degree of challenge or complexity. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of difficulty you want to convey.