it was difficult to make

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was difficult to make" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a task or process that required significant effort or skill to accomplish. Example: "The recipe was challenging, and it was difficult to make the soufflé rise properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was difficult to make.

The New York Times - Sports

It was difficult to make birdies out there.

The New York Times - Sports

It was difficult to make him understand what she needed.

The Guardian - Books

It was difficult to make out what had once been human beings.

The New Yorker

It was difficult to make friends because everyone looked the same.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The drivers said it was difficult to make much money because of the lack of business.

The New York Times

Bell, like most handicappers, said it was difficult to make sweeping conclusions on such a small set of data.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was difficult to make that distinction," he said, between support for the war and support for the armed forces.

The New York Times

But he added that since no larger national papers have switched from free to partial pay, it was difficult to make any guesses.

The New York Times

I began to worry that it was difficult to make progress on the questions I was interested in with the tools one finds in these authors.

The New York Times

It was difficult to make out the words, and Mr. Stevens sang with a vulnerable, breathless tone that toggled between a clear upper and a raw lower register.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "difficult" with a more precise adjective to convey the specific nature of the challenge, like "complex", "intricate", or "demanding".

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "It was difficult to make", without clarifying the subject or reason for the difficulty. Instead, provide specific details such as "It was difficult to make the argument convincing due to lack of evidence."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was difficult to make" functions as an introductory statement expressing the degree of effort or complexity involved in a specific action or decision. It sets the stage for explaining the challenges encountered, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was difficult to make" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to convey the challenges involved in a specific action or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, scientific writing, and formal business communication. The phrase is found most frequently in news and media, and science. When using this phrase, it is advisable to provide specific context to clarify the nature and cause of the difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making it proved challenging

Reorders the sentence to emphasize the challenge inherent in the making process, rather than stating the difficulty upfront.

it wasn't easy to create

Uses a more informal tone by employing "wasn't easy" instead of "difficult".

establishing it was a hurdle

Highlights the hurdle or obstacle that needed to be overcome during the act of making.

achieving it presented problems

Focuses on the problems encountered while trying to achieve the goal, implying difficulty.

completing it was arduous

Emphasizes the laboriousness of the task, using "arduous" to suggest difficulty.

the creation process was tough

Simplifies the language, using "tough" to describe the creation process.

forging it required substantial effort

Highlights the significant amount of effort required, indicating the difficulty.

it posed a considerable challenge to produce

Introduces the idea of a challenge, emphasizing that producing something was significantly difficult.

generating it wasn't a walk in the park

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that generating something was not simple or easy.

bringing it about was no simple feat

Emphasizes that achieving the result was not easy or straightforward.

FAQs

How can I use "it was difficult to make" in a sentence?

You can use "it was difficult to make" to describe a challenging process or decision. For example, "It was difficult to make that decision given the limited information available."

What are some alternatives to "it was difficult to make"?

Alternatives include phrases like "making it proved challenging", "it wasn't easy to create", or "achieving it presented problems", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "it was difficult to make"?

It is appropriate to use "it was difficult to make" when describing a situation where significant effort, skill, or resources were required to accomplish a task or reach a decision.

Is there a difference between saying "it was difficult to make" and "it was hard to make"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "it was difficult to make" might be perceived as slightly more formal than "it was hard to make". The choice often depends on the context and audience.