is somewhat difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "is somewhat difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that something is not necessarily extremely difficult, but it is more complicated or challenging than it is easy. For example: "Trying to find a balance between work and personal life is somewhat difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Getting back to that grind is somewhat difficult.

The Guardian

The truth of this is somewhat difficult to establish.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"This is somewhat difficult for me," he says, nodding at the 99.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For that reason, he said, it is somewhat difficult to imagine newspapers remarketing themselves as a luxury product.

The New York Times

It can be bleached to a pure white but dyeing is somewhat difficult because the fibres are not readily penetrated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The center — talented chefs who are not necessarily trying to reinvent cuisine — is somewhat difficult to find.

The New York Times - Magazine

Gauging the effect of a policy against patenting genes, should it be carried out, is somewhat difficult.

The New York Times

We agree that the walk is somewhat difficult and more arduous than the tour of Mount Blanc, but it is well marked.

The New York Times - Travel

Second, it is somewhat difficult to believe that the 30 or so women who actually wear the niqab in Belgium are the single biggest hindrance to integration.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, production of a DCC is somewhat difficult.

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

But it is somewhat difficult in the discrete case.

Advances in Difference Equations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is somewhat difficult" when you want to express a moderate level of challenge without exaggerating the difficulty. It's suitable for situations that require effort and thought, but aren't insurmountable.

Common error

Avoid using "is somewhat difficult" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your descriptions sound vague. Instead, consider specifying the exact challenges involved or using stronger, more descriptive adjectives to convey the level of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is somewhat difficult" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the degree of difficulty associated with a subject. According to Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase, indicating a moderate level of challenge without being overly strong. Examples in Ludwig show it describing tasks, concepts, and situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is somewhat difficult" serves as a useful tool to express a moderate level of challenge or complexity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and appropriate for various writing styles. Occurring frequently in scientific and news media sources, this phrase allows you to accurately portray a task or concept that requires effort, while avoiding exaggeration.

When using "is somewhat difficult", consider the context and choose synonyms such as "is a bit challenging" or "is moderately complex" to further fine-tune your expression. Although commonly employed, be mindful of overusing this phrase, opting instead for more descriptive alternatives to maintain clarity and engagement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a bit challenging

Uses "challenging" instead of "difficult" and "a bit" instead of "somewhat" to soften the statement.

presents some challenges

Shifts the focus to the challenges themselves rather than directly stating difficulty.

is not exactly easy

Uses a double negative to imply difficulty without directly stating it.

is moderately complex

Replaces "difficult" with "complex" to emphasize intricacy over pure difficulty.

requires a bit of effort

Focuses on the effort required, implying difficulty indirectly.

is a little complicated

Substitutes "difficult" with "complicated" to highlight the intricate nature of the task.

is not entirely straightforward

Indicates that the process has complexities and is not simple.

involves a degree of complexity

Highlights the presence of complexity, suggesting a level of difficulty.

is rather involved

Emphasizes the intricacy and complexity of the matter, implying it's not simple to handle.

poses certain obstacles

Focuses on the obstacles presented, indirectly implying difficulty in overcoming them.

FAQs

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

You can use "is somewhat difficult" to describe tasks or situations that present a moderate level of challenge. For example, "Understanding this concept is somewhat difficult without prior knowledge."

What are some alternatives to "is somewhat difficult"?

Alternatives include "is a bit challenging", "is moderately complex", or "requires a bit of effort", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "is somewhat difficult" instead of "is very difficult"?

"Is somewhat difficult" is appropriate when the task or situation presents a challenge but is not overwhelmingly hard. "Is very difficult" should be used when the challenge is substantial and requires significant effort or expertise.

Is "is somewhat difficult" too informal for academic writing?

While "is somewhat difficult" is generally acceptable, consider using more precise language in formal academic writing to specify the nature and degree of the difficulty. Alternatives like "presents considerable challenges" might be more suitable.