it has proven difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It has proven difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a task or activity was difficult to accomplish. For example: "It has proven difficult to save enough money for a house in this expensive city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But safety advocates say it has proven difficult to improve the situation.

The New York Times

Performance pay has had mixed results, and it has proven difficult to systematically separate good and bad teachers.

The Guardian

Thus far it has proven difficult for Ramos to have many top players together at once because of club commitments.

The New York Times

It has proven difficult to rearm the metal plates from batteries fast enough to zap the second charge of a tandem warhead.

The Economist

Archaeological evidence for early Rome is scattered and limited because it has proven difficult to conduct extensive excavations at sites still occupied by later buildings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to clarify the relevance of this difference.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Consequently, it has proven difficult to maintain surfactant-producing cells [9].

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

However, it has proven difficult to accomplish this goal with peptide-based structures.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

It has proven difficult to identify those spiders which cause necrotic lesions.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology

It has proven difficult to explain why this "double luck" prevents knowledge.

SEP

Consequently, it has proven difficult to test these agents in traditional rat and mouse models of anxiety and depression.

Neuropsychopharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "it has proven difficult" when you want to express that a certain task, process, or situation has presented significant challenges and has not been easy to accomplish. Be specific in explaining why it has been difficult.

Common error

Avoid using "it has proven difficult" as a standalone statement without explaining what has proven difficult or why. Always provide context to make the statement meaningful and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has proven difficult" functions as a statement expressing that a particular task, situation, or process has presented significant challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has proven difficult" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate that something has presented substantial challenges. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including formal scientific writing, news reports, and business communications. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related sources, it serves the purpose of conveying the complexities and obstacles encountered during a specific task or process. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to provide specific context to enhance clarity and avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "it has proven challenging" or "it has not been easy" can be used to provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has proven challenging

Changes the adjective to "challenging", providing a slightly different nuance but similar meaning.

it has turned out to be difficult

Replaces "proven" with "turned out to be", indicating a realization over time.

it has been a difficult task

Changes the structure to emphasize the task's inherent difficulty.

it has not been easy

Uses a simpler and more direct expression to convey the same idea.

it has presented difficulties

Focuses on the difficulties encountered rather than the proving aspect.

it has posed a challenge

Emphasizes the challenging aspect of the situation.

it has been problematic

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic", highlighting the issues caused.

it has met with obstacles

Shifts the focus to the obstacles encountered during the process.

achieving it has been difficult

Rearranges the sentence to highlight the act of achieving something.

it has been arduous

Uses a stronger, more formal word ("arduous") to describe the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it has proven difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "it has proven challenging", "it has turned out to be difficult", or "it has not been easy" depending on the context.

Is "it has proven difficult" formal or informal?

The phrase "it has proven difficult" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing to determine if a more specific or nuanced phrase would be more appropriate.

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

"It is difficult" simply states that something is challenging. "It has proven difficult" implies that the difficulty has been experienced or observed over time. For example: "Planning the event is difficult" vs "Planning the event "it has proven difficult" because of budget constraints".

What kind of situations is "it has proven difficult" appropriate for?

The phrase is appropriate when describing situations where there is objective and verifiable proof or evidence to support the claim that something is difficult. For instance, in scientific research, project management, or personal endeavors where tangible results are not easily achieved.