little more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little more difficult" is not correct as it is missing the article "a" before "little." You can use the corrected phrase "a little more difficult" when comparing the difficulty of two tasks or situations.
Example: "This math problem is a little more difficult than the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Today, it's a little more difficult".

The Guardian - Music

Here's something a little more difficult.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Par 3s to start are a little more difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

Answering the question of why is a little more difficult.

The New York Times

"To interpret the results gets a little more difficult".

The New York Times

It might be a little more difficult now.

The Guardian - Opinion

"When you're losing it makes it a little more difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a little more difficult than rocket science".

The New York Times

It's a little more difficult for me to get warm".

The New York Times - Sports

It's a little more difficult when people are struggling".

The New York Times - Sports

"But the grass definitely made the penalty kick a little more difficult".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the difficulty of two tasks, ensure you use the correct article. Instead of saying "This is "little more difficult"", say "This is a little more difficult" to be grammatically accurate.

Common error

A frequent error is omitting the article "a" before "little". Always include "a" to ensure grammatical correctness: "a little more difficult" instead of "little more difficult".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little more difficult", while commonly used, functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It aims to express that something is slightly more challenging than something else, but technically requires the article 'a' to be grammatically correct. Ludwig AI highlights this missing article.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "little more difficult" is a comparative expression used to indicate a slight increase in difficulty. While commonly used, it's grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the article "a". Ludwig AI emphasizes that the correct form is "a little more difficult". Despite this grammatical issue, the phrase appears frequently in various contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science. For clearer and more authoritative communication, consider using the grammatically correct form or exploring alternatives such as "slightly more challenging" or "a bit more demanding".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat more challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "little" with "somewhat" offering a slightly more formal tone.

slightly more complex

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex", emphasizing increased intricacy rather than sheer difficulty.

a bit more demanding

Uses "demanding" to highlight the increased effort or requirements involved.

a tad more complicated

Employs "complicated" to suggest increased complexity and uses "a tad" for a slightly less formal tone.

a shade more intricate

Replaces "difficult" with "intricate", focusing on the fine details and complexity, and uses "a shade" for subtle difference.

a touch more problematic

Substitutes "difficult" with "problematic", suggesting that the increased difficulty stems from potential issues or obstacles.

marginally more taxing

Uses "taxing" to emphasize the increased strain or burden associated with the task.

a shade more burdensome

Emphasizes the heavier load or responsibility that accompanies the increased difficulty.

rather more involved

Indicates that the task requires more steps or elements, making it more complex.

a trifle more challenging

Uses "challenging" as a synonym for difficult and “a trifle” emphasizes the slight increase in the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "little more difficult" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct phrase is "a little more difficult". For example, "This task is "a little more difficult" than I expected".

What are some alternatives to saying "little more difficult"?

You could use phrases such as "slightly more challenging", "somewhat more complex", or "a bit more demanding" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "little more difficult"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. The correct form is "a little more difficult". The absence of the article "a" makes the phrase grammatically incorrect, according to Ludwig AI.

What's the difference between "little more difficult" and "a little more difficult"?

"Little more difficult" is grammatically incorrect due to the missing article "a". "A little more difficult" is the correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that something is slightly more challenging.