make it challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'make it challenging' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to make something difficult or when indicating that a task will be difficult. For example: "Let's make it challenging and see if we can solve this difficult problem within an hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We wanted to make it challenging.

The New York Times

Take your time and drink plenty of water – the heat and altitude can make it challenging.

The Guardian - Travel

Clearly, there are several factors that make it challenging to establish bioinformatics programs!

Science Magazine

The test wasn't difficult, but I was determined to make it challenging.

Huffington Post

The unpredictability and chaotic circumstances of terrorism make it challenging to execute studies.

BMC Health Services Research

Make it challenging to provoke reader's feedback.

WikiHow

Make it challenging for people and use different terrain as obstacles.

WikiHow

Make it challenging so you might not pass it at first or second, just don't go over the top.

WikiHow

If you're going to collect Sindy dolls, the range of almost 50 years of dolls will make it challenging.

WikiHow

The relatively small size of the putative inversion, and its location in the middle of the chromosome, make it challenging to characterize using standard cytogenetic techniques.

BMC Genomics

Think about what might make it challenging to stop.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, if the goal is not to challenge but rather to show something to be naturally challenging, consider using "it makes it challenging".

Common error

Avoid using "make it challenging" when a simpler word like "difficult" or "hard" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it challenging" primarily functions as a directive or suggestion to increase the difficulty of something. It can also describe an existing situation with difficulty involved, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

42%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make it challenging" is a versatile phrase used to either propose increasing difficulty or describe a demanding situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and while its frequency is uncommon, it appears across various contexts, particularly in Science and News & Media. When employing this phrase, it's essential to ensure the intended degree of challenge aligns with the audience and purpose, avoiding overuse to maintain writing clarity. Related phrases such as "heighten the difficulty" or "render it difficult" can provide nuanced alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

render it difficult

Similar in structure, but uses 'render' instead of 'make'.

heighten the difficulty

Focuses on increasing the level of difficulty.

make it arduous

Emphasizes the laborious nature of the task.

increase the complexity

Highlights adding layers of complexity.

present an obstacle

Focuses on the act of presenting something that hinders progress.

pose a problem

Emphasizes creating an obstacle or issue.

crank up the difficulty

Similar to 'turn up the heat', but more directly related to difficulty.

complicate matters

Highlights the act of making things more intricate.

turn up the heat

Idiomatic expression for increasing pressure or difficulty.

set a high bar

Focuses on establishing a challenging standard.

FAQs

How can I use "make it challenging" in a sentence?

You can use "make it challenging" to suggest increasing the difficulty of a task, or to describe a situation as difficult. For example: "Let's "make it challenging" and try to finish this project by the end of the day."

What are some alternatives to "make it challenging"?

Alternatives include "heighten the difficulty", "render it difficult" or "increase the complexity" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "make it challenging" or "make it difficult"?

Both "make it challenging" and "make it difficult" are grammatically correct, but "make it challenging" often implies a more deliberate and stimulating difficulty, while "make it difficult" can simply indicate an increase in obstruction or hardship.

When is it more appropriate to use "it makes it challenging" instead of "make it challenging"?

"Make it challenging" is a direct instruction, while "it makes it challenging" is a description of existing difficulty or complexity caused by something else. For example: "The weather makes hiking challenging" versus "Let's make this hike challenging by going off-trail."