more difficult than usual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more difficult than usual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the degree of difficulty of something with a normal level of difficulty. For example, "We had to work on this project which was more difficult than usual."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Making comparisons is more difficult than usual and requires a preliminary caution.

The Economist

Republicans say defeating the bill would be more difficult than usual.

The New York Times

She found that the looming anxiety of Bowen's Court made serious writing even more difficult than usual.

The Guardian - Books

This year, our new president may find it more difficult than usual to mine the good will such moments encourage.

The New York Times - Magazine

And, when it comes to famous people's misdeeds, obtaining redress through criminal prosecution is often more difficult than usual.

The New Yorker

It is more difficult than usual to make it to the cabinet because the Lib Dems have five seats.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Her bosses didn't like being lectured on what to cover, and she lacked the clout to pitch stories more difficult than the usual schools-and-drug-bust fare.

The New York Times - Books

The important point here is that initial vacuum is allowed; that is, the initial density may vanish in an open subset of the space-domain, which evidently makes the existence and regularity questions more difficult than the usual case that the initial density has a positive lower bound.

Boundary Value Problems

According to James Dinh from MTV, the "choreography [of the performance] seemingly more difficult than in her usual performances, the singer showcased her best high-energy moves".

Wikipedia

It is much more difficult than poetry.

The New Yorker

This is more difficult than it sounds.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more difficult than usual", ensure the context clearly establishes what the 'usual' level of difficulty is. This provides a stronger comparison for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "more difficult than usual" when the situation is only slightly more challenging. Overusing this phrase can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more difficult than usual" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to describe a situation, task, or activity by comparing its level of difficulty to a standard or expected level. As Ludwig suggests, it's a perfectly usable and correct English phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more difficult than usual" is a common and grammatically correct comparative adjective phrase used to describe situations or tasks that present a greater challenge than typically expected. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is perfectly acceptable for use in writing. It's frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications, indicating its broad applicability. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the context sufficiently defines the 'usual' level of difficulty to provide a meaningful comparison. Related phrases such as "uncharacteristically challenging" or "tougher than normal" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tougher than normal

Simple substitution of "normal" for "usual".

harder than generally

Simple substitution of "generally" for "usual".

more challenging than expected

Adds an element of surprise to the difficulty.

uncharacteristically challenging

Emphasizes that the difficulty is out of the ordinary.

exceptionally demanding

Highlights the high level of effort required.

more complicated than anticipated

Focuses on the increased complexity.

particularly arduous

Stresses the strenuous nature of the task.

uncommonly tough

Uses more informal language to convey the increased difficulty.

presents unusual difficulties

Changes the structure to focus on the difficulties themselves.

poses greater problems than typical

Highlights the problems caused by the increased difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "more difficult than usual" in a sentence?

You can use "more difficult than usual" to compare a situation's current level of difficulty with its typical level. For example, "The exam was "more difficult than usual" this year."

What's a formal alternative to "more difficult than usual"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "uncharacteristically challenging" or "exceptionally demanding" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "more difficult than usual" subjective?

Yes, the perception of something being "more difficult than usual" can be subjective, as it depends on individual experience and expectations. Providing context helps to make the comparison clearer.

What's the difference between "more difficult than usual" and "more difficult than expected"?

"More difficult than usual" refers to a general increase in difficulty compared to a typical situation, while "more challenging than expected" implies the difficulty was underestimated beforehand.