it remains difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it remains difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a situation or task continues to be challenging or complicated over time. Example: "Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, it remains difficult to find a solution that satisfies everyone involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It remains difficult, however, to understand why selection by remaining volume would bias our findings.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Yet it remains difficult to diagnose.

Stanford University

However it remains difficult to assess objectively.

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

It remains difficult to know what happened to specific works.

Princeton University

It remains difficult to track sales of taxi-screen advertising.

The New York Times

It remains difficult to characterize this news about Farrell.

The Washington Post

However, it remains difficult for her to save any money.

The Guardian

However, it remains difficult to synthesize general textures over arbitrary manifold surfaces.

Stanford University

But it remains difficult to keep tabs on where commodities are sourced in supply chains.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nevertheless, it remains difficult to enhance the deep approach, monitoring studying, organised studying and effort management.

Studies in Educational Evaluation

It remains difficult for product designers and environmental experts to interrelate their respective parameters.

Procedia CIRP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it remains difficult", ensure the context clearly identifies what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it remains difficult" without clearly specifying what "it" refers to. Vague pronoun references can confuse the reader and weaken your argument. Instead, be specific about the subject causing the difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it remains difficult" functions as a statement of persistent challenge. Ludwig shows that it frequently introduces an explanation or acknowledgment of an ongoing problem. This construction highlights the continuation of a difficult situation despite previous efforts or considerations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it remains difficult" is a versatile phrase used to express the ongoing nature of a challenge or problem. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts, indicating its broad applicability. While grammatically sound, ensure clarity by specifying what "it" refers to, as Ludwig AI highlights the importance of avoiding vague pronoun references. Alternatives such as "it is still a challenge" and "the challenge persists" offer varied ways to convey a similar meaning, but it is essential to pick the most suitable to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is still a challenge

Replaces "difficult" with "a challenge", altering the noun while retaining the core meaning of an ongoing problem.

it continues to be problematic

Substitutes "remains difficult" with "continues to be problematic", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the issue.

the challenge persists

Uses a more concise and direct structure, highlighting the persistence of the challenge.

it is still proving hard

Replaces "difficult" with "proving hard", providing a more informal tone while keeping the essential meaning.

the situation is still complex

Focuses on the complexity of the situation as the primary obstacle.

it has not become easier

Expresses the lack of improvement in ease, implying that the difficulty remains constant.

the task continues to be demanding

Specifically references a "task" and its "demanding" nature, which implies difficulty.

achieving success remains elusive

Highlights the lack of success due to ongoing difficulties.

obstacles continue to hinder progress

Focuses on the obstacles hindering progress, emphasizing the difficulty in moving forward.

solving the problem is still proving troublesome

Specifically addresses the problem-solving aspect and its troublesome nature.

FAQs

How can I use "it remains difficult" in a sentence?

Use "it remains difficult" to express that a task, situation, or problem continues to be challenging despite efforts to resolve it. For example, "Despite numerous attempts, "it remains difficult" to find a solution".

What are some alternatives to saying "it remains difficult"?

You can use alternatives such as "it is still a challenge", "it continues to be problematic", or "the challenge persists" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it still remains difficult"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "it still remains difficult" can be slightly redundant as "still" and "remains" both imply continuation. It's often more concise to use either ""it remains difficult"" or "it is still difficult".

What's the difference between "it remains difficult" and "it was difficult"?

"It remains difficult" implies an ongoing challenge, while "it was difficult" refers to a past challenge that may or may not still exist. The former emphasizes the continuation of the difficulty into the present.