moderately difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"moderately difficult" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is not extremely hard, but also not easy. You can use this phrase when you want to convey that something is challenging, but not impossible. For example: - The math test was moderately difficult, but I was able to answer most of the questions correctly. - She found the hike to be moderately difficult, but she pushed herself and made it to the top. - The recipe seemed moderately difficult, but with some practice, I was able to make a delicious dish. - The crossword puzzle in the newspaper was moderately difficult, but I was able to finish it without any help. - The exam was moderately difficult, and some students struggled with it, but overall the class did well.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

For certain outcomes the effects of stall design interacted with difficulty of training (willingness to enter feeder and drink); for the 38% of calves that were scored as moderately difficult to train on a scale of easy, moderate, or difficult, treatment (stall design) differences were detected.

Journal of Dairy Science

Assange, a cryptographer of exceptional skill, told me that unlocking the file was "moderately difficult".

The New Yorker

Hikers climb nearly 1,200 feet in elevation on this moderately difficult trail.

The New York Times

A green ring might represent an easily caught Pokémon, yellow for moderately difficult, and so on.

The Guardian - Tech

The homework was moderately difficult but careful review of the video provided enough information to answer the questions.

The New York Times

This week's puzzle was suggested by frequent Numberplay contributor Marco Moriconi, who rates the puzzle "moderately difficult".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Some processing plant operators have opted to dispose fine material due to the lack of technologies available for treating moderately difficult-to-clean fine coal and for dewatering of the final product.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

The responses to questions on how knowledgeable participants were of various medical specialties had maximum rating of 5 (very difficult-1; moderately difficult-2; mildly difficult-3; easy-4; very easy-5).

BMC Medical Education

RpoB and rpoC1 were moderately more difficult to handle than rbcL; amplification failures were as high as 8% for rpoB, and rpoC1 yields the fewest informative characters of the seven core regions we compared.

Plosone

The flavor was a perfect expression of the fruit — bright and not too sweet — and it occurred to me that preserve-making was like many cooking processes: easy to do moderately well but difficult to master.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, it is evident that many items are moderately to very difficult in the fall of preschools, thus limiting their capacity to assess literacy proficiency.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing tasks or activities, use "moderately difficult" to accurately portray a challenge that requires effort but is achievable with reasonable skill or preparation. Avoid overstating the difficulty if it does not present a significant obstacle.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately difficult" when the situation is either very easy or extremely challenging. Ensure your assessment aligns with the actual demands of the task to provide an accurate representation. Don't underestimate or exaggerate the effort required.

Linguistic Context

Moderately difficult functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying nouns to indicate a level of challenge that is neither too easy nor extremely hard. Ludwig provides examples where it describes the difficulty of tasks, trails, training, and even puzzles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "moderately difficult" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe tasks or situations that present a challenge without being overwhelming. As Ludwig shows, this phrase appears in a wide range of contexts, from scientific research to news articles and encyclopedias. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. When using "moderately difficult", it's important to ensure the degree of difficulty aligns with the actual demands of the task. Alternatives like "somewhat challenging" or "a bit demanding" can offer slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and uses "somewhat" to convey a moderate level.

fairly challenging

Similar to 'somewhat challenging' but employs 'fairly' as the degree modifier.

not too easy

Expresses difficulty by negation, indicating that something is not simple.

a bit demanding

Uses "demanding" to imply effort required, preceded by "a bit" for moderation.

slightly complex

Focuses on the complexity rather than difficulty, using "slightly" to moderate.

reasonably taxing

Employs "taxing" to suggest a drain on resources, modified by "reasonably".

moderately strenuous

Substitutes "difficult" with "strenuous", implying physical or mental exertion at a moderate level.

somewhat arduous

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous" implying steep effort required.

a touch complicated

Focuses on the complication aspect, using "a touch" for slightness.

slightly tricky

Employs "tricky" to suggest a need for careful handling, moderated by "slightly".

FAQs

How can I use "moderately difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately difficult" to describe tasks, challenges, or problems that require effort but are not insurmountable. For example, "The exam was "moderately difficult", but I managed to pass".

What are some alternatives to saying "moderately difficult"?

Alternatives include "somewhat challenging", "fairly challenging", or "a bit demanding", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "moderately difficult"?

Yes, "moderately difficult" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something that presents a challenge without being overly complex or impossible.

What's the difference between "moderately difficult" and "slightly difficult"?

"Moderately difficult" implies a noticeable level of challenge, requiring a fair amount of effort and skill. "Slightly difficult", on the other hand, suggests a minimal challenge that most people can overcome easily.