it was difficult to find

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was difficult to find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a challenge or struggle in locating something, whether it be a physical object, information, or a solution. Example: "After searching for hours, I realized it was difficult to find the right book in the library."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sister: "it was difficult to find the vehicle…and it was difficult to find money to pay the cost".

Global Health Action

"It was difficult to find the motivation.

The New York Times - Sports

It was difficult to find a place.

The New York Times

Until recently it was difficult to find in New York.

The New York Times - Food

It was difficult to find any other explanation.

The New York Times

It was difficult to find a place to sit.

The New Yorker

It was difficult to find continuity in players' performances".

Independent

"But it was difficult to find money for the film.

The New York Times

"In addition, it was difficult to find a job".

The New York Times - Arts

"It was difficult to find the right specialist," says Russell.

The Guardian

It was difficult to find her unusually small size.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was difficult to find", be specific about what made the search challenging. For example, mention the limited resources, time constraints, or unclear instructions.

Common error

While "it was difficult to find" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive constructions can weaken your writing. Consider rephrasing to emphasize the actor: "I struggled to find..." or "We had difficulty finding...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was difficult to find" functions as an impersonal construction expressing a challenge or obstacle in locating something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used to describe such situations. This contrasts with a direct statement of inability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was difficult to find" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the challenge of locating something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, from news reports to personal narratives. While it enjoys wide acceptance, writers should be mindful of potential over-reliance on passive voice. Exploring alternatives like "I struggled to find" can enhance writing by injecting agency and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was a struggle to find

Directly states the struggle involved in finding something.

i had trouble locating

Uses simpler vocabulary to express the difficulty in finding something.

i found it hard to locate

Expresses the difficulty from a personal perspective using "hard to locate".

it proved challenging to locate

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "find" with "locate", emphasizing the effort required.

it was no easy task to find

Emphasizes the difficulty by stating it wasn't easy.

locating it presented a challenge

Shifts the sentence structure to highlight the challenge of locating something.

i struggled to discover

Uses "struggled" to convey the difficulty and "discover" as an alternative to "find".

finding it posed a problem

Highlights the problem aspect of the search process.

pinpointing it was problematic

Replaces finding with the more precise "pinpointing", indicating a specific location.

it was a trial to unearth

Emphasizes the arduous nature of the search using "trial" and "unearth".

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it was difficult to find"?

You can use alternatives like "it proved challenging to locate", "i struggled to discover", or "i had trouble locating depending on the context.

How to use "it was difficult to find" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to describe a situation where something was hard to locate or obtain. Example: "It was difficult to find a parking space downtown."

Is "it was difficult to find" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might exist depending on the specific situation.

What's the difference between "it was difficult to find" and "it was impossible to find"?

"It was difficult to find" implies that finding something was challenging but not necessarily unachievable. "It was impossible to find" indicates that finding it was completely out of reach.