it has become difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it has become difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something has become harder than before. For example: "With the rise in unemployment, it has become difficult to find a job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Looking back, it has become difficult to appreciate his work on its own merits, especially for such a coterie-oriented film-maker.

The Guardian - Film

It has become difficult to see "golden-age" 3-D, as its many fans refer to the old two-projector process, in its original form.

The New York Times

But it has become difficult to keep this up.

The New York Times

Even borrowing it has become difficult to impossible.

The New York Times - Arts

It has become difficult to look at Damien Hirst.

The Guardian

Juan Prieto, MSF Yemen's head of mission, said it has become difficult to operate in Yemen.

The Guardian

It has become difficult to do anything in this town that isn't of national significance.

The New York Times - Magazine

It has become difficult to have a reasonable discussion about the most controversial president in our recent history.

Harvard University

But with Reyes set to return Monday, it has become difficult for Collins to imagine sending Tejada to the bench.

The New York Times - Sports

In the Castro neighborhood, turnover among merchants is so rampant that it has become difficult to keep track.

The New York Times

It has become difficult for Republicans to please both suburban soccer moms and up-country Christian Coalition members.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has become difficult" to describe situations where a previously manageable task or situation has increased in complexity or effort required. For instance, "With increasing competition, it has become difficult to stand out in the market."

Common error

While "it has become difficult" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "it's getting harder" or "it presents obstacles now" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has become difficult" functions as an introductory clause followed by an explanation, setting the stage for a statement about a challenging situation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it has become difficult" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an increase in the complexity or challenge of a situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted in diverse writing contexts. While it appears most frequently in news and media, its usage spans academia and professional communications. For stylistic variation, consider alternatives like "it's increasingly challenging" or "it's getting harder". Remember to use this phrase when emphasizing a shift over time, contrasting it with situations where "it is difficult" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's getting harder

Emphasizes the progressive increase in difficulty over time.

it's now challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", suggesting a demanding but potentially rewarding situation.

it requires more effort now

Directly states that increased effort is needed to achieve the same results.

it's proving tough

Uses "tough" to convey the difficulty, implying resilience is needed to overcome obstacles.

it is a struggle now

Conveys a sense of ongoing effort and resistance.

it's increasingly problematic

Highlights that something is causing problems or issues more often.

it is hardly possible

Indicates that something is only achieved with great difficulty and unlikely to happen.

it's no longer straightforward

Suggests that a process or task has lost its simplicity.

it's become quite a task

Implies the difficulty stems from the amount of effort required.

it presents obstacles now

Focuses on the barriers or impediments that are now present.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it has become difficult" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it is increasingly challenging", "it presents considerable obstacles", or "it has proven arduous".

What's the difference between "it has become difficult" and "it is difficult"?

"It has become difficult" implies a change over time, suggesting something was easier previously. "It is difficult" simply states that something is currently hard, without reference to a prior state.

When is it appropriate to use "it has become difficult" in writing?

Use "it has become difficult" when you want to emphasize a change in the level of difficulty over time. For example, "Due to budget cuts, it has become difficult to maintain the same level of service."

Are there any situations where "it was difficult" is a better choice than "it has become difficult"?

"It was difficult" is more appropriate when referring to a specific past event or a situation that has already concluded, whereas "it has become difficult" implies a continuing or evolving challenge.