it was a considerable challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was a considerable challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task or situation that required significant effort or skill to overcome. Example: "Completing the project on time was a considerable challenge due to the tight deadlines and limited resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The regulator was targeting several "household brand names", Mr Pollack said, but it was a considerable challenge to trace many of the companies responsible so action could be taken - with the identity of 75% of callers not traceable from their phone numbers.

BBC

As a consequence, it was a considerable challenge to mount this pilot study, given the prevailing assumption that exercise intervention is not appropriate for women undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Currently, computational investigation of lncRNA functions is still at its early development stage, since it is a considerable challenge due to the characteristics of lncRNAs, e.g., many lncRNA gene sequences are not conserved and do not contain conserved sequence motifs [ 7], which makes it difficult to infer potential functions of lncRNAs based on their sequences alone.

BMC Genomics

It is a considerable challenge to fabricate this kind of fibrous scaffold.

Materials Letters

Due to the adaption, dynamic and multi-objective characteristics of complex water resources system, it is a considerable challenge to manage water resources in an efficient, equitable and sustainable way.

Journal of Hydrology

It is a considerable challenge, because of the myriad of fields from which data can be recorded, and the variety of end-users.

BMC Health Services Research

It is a considerable challenge to integrate the numerous targets and effectors, and to integrate this knowledge into an accurate understanding of the mechanisms by which effector proteins cause diseases.

BioMed Research International

It is a considerable challenge to metabolically heat a small body with a large skin surface area while hanging upside-down inside a cold, dark and damp underground site, and may be a losing battle for bats with wings infected by G. destructans.

BMC Biology

However, because NMDA-Rs are expressed in most cell types in the brain (Conti et al., 1997; Verkhratsky and Kirchhoff, 2007), it is a considerable challenge to selectively assess the importance of NMDA-R mediated synaptic plasticity in specific cell types.

eLife

THE creation of the factory, from a 100-year-old industrial plant with a sloping floor, was a considerable challenge.

The New York Times

"Last summer, there was a considerable challenge among my headteacher colleagues in recruiting maths, English and science teachers," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was a considerable challenge" to introduce a situation or task that required significant effort, skill, or resources to overcome. It effectively sets the stage for explaining the complexities and efforts involved.

Common error

While "it was a considerable challenge" is a useful phrase, avoid using it repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms like "it presented a significant obstacle" or "it required a major effort" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

"It was a considerable challenge" functions as an introductory phrase to denote a task, situation, or problem that presented a substantial level of difficulty. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was a considerable challenge" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce a task or situation that presented significant difficulty. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. Its widespread presence in various contexts, including science, news media, and formal business, suggests its versatility and broad applicability. While it's essential to avoid overuse and vary the language for better engagement, the phrase serves as an effective introduction to complex problems and the efforts required to overcome them.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it presented a significant obstacle

Focuses on the obstacle aspect rather than the overall challenge.

it posed a substantial difficulty

Emphasizes the difficulty involved, using a more formal tone.

it required a major effort

Highlights the effort needed to overcome the challenge.

it demanded considerable skill

Stresses the skill required to address the challenge successfully.

it involved a tough undertaking

Uses 'undertaking' to suggest a project or task that was difficult.

it proved to be quite demanding

Highlights the demanding nature of the task or situation.

it was no easy feat

An idiomatic expression indicating the difficulty of the task.

it tested our abilities significantly

Focuses on how the challenge tested the abilities of those involved.

it stretched our capabilities

Suggests the challenge pushed the limits of what was possible.

it presented a complex problem

Highlights the complexity of the situation rather than the effort to overcome it.

FAQs

How can I use "it was a considerable challenge" in a sentence?

You can use "it was a considerable challenge" to introduce a task or situation that required significant effort or skill to overcome. For example: "Completing the project on time "it was a considerable challenge" due to the tight deadlines".

What are some alternatives to "it was a considerable challenge"?

You can use alternatives like "it presented a significant obstacle", "it posed a substantial difficulty", or "it required a major effort" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "it was a considerable challenge" or "it was a significant challenge"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "It was a significant challenge" might be slightly more common and generally applicable, while "it was a considerable challenge" can add a touch more emphasis on the magnitude of the difficulty.

What's the difference between "it was a considerable challenge" and "it was a difficult task"?

While both phrases denote difficulty, "it was a considerable challenge" often implies a more complex or multifaceted difficulty that requires strategic thinking and significant resources. "It was a difficult task" is a more general statement about the level of effort required.