it was difficult to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was difficult to maintain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges related to sustaining or keeping something over time, such as a relationship, standard, or condition. Example: "After several months of hard work, I realized it was difficult to maintain the same level of enthusiasm for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

I was just 5 feet 8 and 175 pounds, and it was difficult to maintain that intensity over 100 games.

The New York Times

Dr. James D. Metz, editor in chief of the nonprofit Oncolink site that offers information on cancer and scored among the highest of the 25 sites reviewed, said it was difficult to maintain high-quality information on the site.

The New York Times

Now 75 and living in Hampton Bays, Mr. Kreisner said, "It got to the point where the taxes were too high, and since we were operating only two months of the year, it was difficult to maintain".

The New York Times

Mr. Irwin said experience in Canada showed that it was difficult to maintain computers mounted in the elevator cabs because of fluctuations in electric power, uneven temperatures and dirt.

The New York Times

"From an engineering and mechanical standpoint, it was difficult to maintain," said Leo Prusak, the F.A.A.'s manager of tactical operations for the Northeast, who was the air traffic manager at La Guardia from 2001 until early this year.

The New York Times

Due to the evaporation of moisture, it was difficult to maintain a unified state during the measurement of the acoustic wave velocity in a fully saturated condition.

Petroleum Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

It's difficult to maintain continuity".

The New York Times - Sports

Our problem isn't just that it's difficult to maintain a 1,000-year 1,000-year

The Guardian - Opinion

It's difficult to maintain public support for interventions to get financial markets moving again.

The Economist

It's difficult to maintain political support for orderly debt restructuring, and so on.

The Economist

You don't stop building just because it is difficult to maintain the park.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it was difficult to maintain", ensure that the context clearly specifies what was challenging to sustain. Providing specific details strengthens your statement and enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "it was difficult to maintain" without explaining the underlying reasons for the difficulty. Instead of a generic statement, provide specific details about why the maintenance was challenging to give your statement more impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was difficult to maintain" functions as a statement of difficulty or challenge encountered in sustaining something. Examples from Ludwig showcase its use across various contexts, from maintaining intensity in sports to maintaining quality in information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was difficult to maintain" serves to articulate the challenges encountered in sustaining something. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and formal business settings. While versatile, the effectiveness of the phrase is enhanced by providing specific details about the reasons for the difficulty, rather than relying on vague qualifiers. Understanding its usage and potential alternatives can strengthen writing and improve clarity in communication. The phrase is prevalent in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it proved challenging to sustain

Replaces "was difficult" with "proved challenging", emphasizing the element of a test or trial.

it became problematic to uphold

Substitutes "difficult to maintain" with "problematic to uphold", highlighting issues and defense.

it was arduous to preserve

Changes "difficult to maintain" with "arduous to preserve", stressing the effort and care involved in keeping something intact.

it was taxing to continue

Replaces "difficult to maintain" with "taxing to continue", underlining the burden of endurance.

it was unsustainable to keep up

Shifts from difficulty to unsustainability, highlighting the incapacity to maintain something over time.

maintaining it presented difficulties

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize difficulties as a direct consequence of maintaining something.

sustaining it posed a challenge

Focuses on the challenge aspect of sustaining something, rather than explicitly stating it was difficult.

it struggled to remain

Replaces the active effort of maintaining with the object's struggle to continue.

keeping it up was troublesome

Emphasizes the troublesome nature of maintaining something, changing the sentence structure.

it was a struggle to perpetuate

Highlights the struggle involved in perpetuating something, implying difficulty.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was difficult to maintain" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it proved challenging to sustain", "it became problematic to uphold", or "it was arduous to preserve" depending on the specific context.

What are some common reasons why "it was difficult to maintain" something?

The reasons can vary widely, including lack of resources, changing circumstances, external pressures, or inherent instability. Always provide context to clarify the specific cause.

Is it better to say "it was difficult to maintain" or "it is difficult to maintain"?

The choice depends on the time frame you're referencing. Use "it was difficult to maintain" for past situations and "it is difficult to maintain" for current or ongoing challenges.

What's the difference between "it was difficult to maintain" and "it was hard to maintain"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. "It was hard to maintain" is slightly more informal, while "it was difficult to maintain" carries a more formal tone, though both convey the same core meaning.