more and more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more and more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an increase in difficulty over time or from one situation to the next. For example, "Organizing our office became more and more difficult as our team grew in size."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The crossing became more and more difficult.

Columbia University

His breathing got more and more difficult.

The New York Times - Health

It's getting more and more difficult".

The Guardian

It was more and more difficult.

The Guardian

But life becomes more and more difficult.

The Guardian - Business

Governing this country is becoming more and more difficult".

The Guardian

"It became more and more difficult for me to stay".

The New Yorker

After Showgirls, making movies became more and more difficult".

The Guardian - Film

It's getting more and more difficult for us.

The Guardian - Sport

It is becoming more and more difficult to manage".

The New York Times

It is getting more and more difficult for our taxpayers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more and more difficult" to describe situations where the level of difficulty increases gradually over time, emphasizing the progressive nature of the challenge. For instance, "As the company grew, managing its finances became "more and more difficult".

Common error

Don't use "more and more difficult" without specifying what is becoming more difficult or why. Providing context ensures clarity and avoids vague statements. For example, instead of saying "Life is becoming more and more difficult", specify "Finding affordable housing in the city is becoming "more and more difficult" due to rising costs."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more and more difficult" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state or condition that is intensifying. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable. Examples show it describing various subjects like breathing, governing, or finding resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

21%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more and more difficult" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a progressively increasing level of challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it serves to highlight the growing complexity of a situation or task, from managing finances to finding affordable housing. While versatile, it's crucial to provide specific context to avoid vague generalizations. For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "increasingly challenging" or "progressively arduous". Overall, "more and more difficult" is a reliable phrase for conveying a sense of escalating difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly challenging

Emphasizes the growing challenge aspect, using a single adjective.

progressively harder

Highlights the gradual nature of the increasing difficulty.

becoming ever more problematic

Focuses on the problematic nature of the increasing difficulty.

getting tougher and tougher

An informal way of expressing the increasing difficulty.

growing in complexity

Shifts the focus to the increasing complexity rather than pure difficulty.

posing greater and greater challenges

Emphasizes the challenges presented by the increasing difficulty.

mounting in difficulty

Suggests a build-up of difficulty over time.

becoming exponentially harder

Implies a rapid increase in difficulty.

presenting escalating obstacles

Highlights the increasing obstacles caused by the difficulty.

complicating matters further

Focuses on the complicating aspect of the increasing difficulty.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "more and more difficult" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "increasingly challenging", "progressively arduous", or "growing in complexity" depending on the specific context.

What's a more casual alternative to "more and more difficult"?

Informal alternatives include "getting tougher and tougher", "getting harder", or "becoming a real struggle".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "more and more difficult"?

The phrase "more and more difficult" is appropriate in a wide range of contexts, from describing personal struggles to discussing complex global issues. It's suitable for situations where a task, situation, or problem is progressively increasing in difficulty over time.

Is there a difference between "more and more difficult" and "increasingly difficult"?

While "more and more difficult" and "increasingly difficult" are similar, "more and more difficult" emphasizes the gradual, step-by-step increase in difficulty, whereas "increasingly difficult" simply indicates that the difficulty is growing without necessarily implying a gradual progression.