possibly more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibly more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the potential for increased difficulty in a situation or task. Example: "The new project may be possibly more difficult than we initially anticipated due to its complexity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It's possibly more difficult to do that today because a lot of people can only play at a hundred miles an hour.

The Guardian - Sport

Jez Coates, chief engineer at manufacturers RDM, which will build 40 more of the pods, said: "It's possibly more difficult than the challenge that Google are taking on, because a pavement is not such a predictable environment as a road, with kids running about".

The Guardian - Tech

This appears to have the advantage of being more comprehensive and possibly more difficult to overcome than blacklisting.

Crime Science

It would be possible to find more complex but more accurate parameterization of (psi ( u ) ) to improve this problem; however, the PMEs with such a coefficient can have higher nonlinearity that is possibly more difficult to numerically deal with.

Journal of Mathematics in Industry

A possible explanation for this could be that a clinical, visual-tactile judgement of the frequently sub-gingival located crown margins is possibly more difficult.

BMC Oral Health

However, previous research suggested that DCSP items relating to behavior were possibly more difficult to interpret and had a lower reliability than other DCSP items [ 30].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They are extremely difficult to reach and possibly even more difficult to implement and sustain.

The Guardian - Opinion

The paper is focused on mitigating the commuting mileage because the aging and knowledge work trends are possibly even more difficult to revise than the dilution process.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

"It could possibly be more difficult with there being a few other sporting teams in the town," said Myler, a cousin of Warrington scrum-half Richie and nephew of Widnes legend Tony.

BBC

You can move on, possibly adding more difficult elements of the concept or practicing harder skills.

WikiHow

They said that one of Mr. Lockett's veins "exploded," possibly making it more difficult for adequate amounts of the drugs to enter his bloodstream.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "possibly more difficult", ensure the context clearly indicates what the increased difficulty is being compared to. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly more difficult" when the increased difficulty is already known or highly probable. In such cases, a more direct statement like "clearly more difficult" or "undoubtedly more difficult" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibly more difficult" functions as a qualifier, adding a degree of uncertainty to a comparison of difficulty. It suggests that while something may be harder, this is not definitively known. This is consistent with examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "possibly more difficult" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey a tentative comparison of difficulty. According to Ludwig, its applications span across Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts. It serves to express a cautious assessment, acknowledging the uncertainty in the level of challenge being presented. When employing this phrase, consider the context and ensure that the comparison point is clear to avoid ambiguity. Overstating the certainty of the difficulty is a common error to watch out for.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arguably more difficult

This alternative suggests that there could be a debate or differing opinions on the level of difficulty.

likely more difficult

This alternative implies a higher probability of increased difficulty.

potentially more difficult

This alternative emphasizes the possibility of greater difficulty depending on future circumstances.

conceivably more challenging

This alternative replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "possibly" with "conceivably", altering the tone.

perhaps more arduous

This alternative uses "arduous" instead of "difficult", implying a task requiring significant effort.

maybe harder

This alternative uses simpler language, replacing "possibly more difficult" with "maybe harder".

might prove tougher

This alternative shifts the focus to the future and uses "tougher" instead of "difficult".

could be trickier

This alternative uses "trickier", implying a need for cleverness and strategy.

may present greater obstacles

This alternative focuses on the presence of "obstacles", suggesting impediments to progress.

could pose a bigger challenge

This alternative replaces 'difficult' with 'a bigger challenge', emphasizing the demanding nature of the task.

FAQs

How can I use "possibly more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "possibly more difficult" to express that something might present a greater challenge than something else. For example, "The second stage of the project is "possibly more difficult" than the first because it involves advanced coding techniques".

What are some alternatives to "possibly more difficult"?

Some alternatives to "possibly more difficult" include "potentially more challenging", "likely more difficult", or "conceivably more arduous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "more difficult" states a higher degree of difficulty as a fact, while "possibly more difficult" suggests that the increased difficulty is uncertain or a matter of opinion. The addition of 'possibly' softens the statement and introduces an element of doubt or speculation.

When is it appropriate to use "possibly more difficult" instead of "definitely more difficult"?

Use "possibly more difficult" when you are unsure about the level of difficulty and want to express a possibility rather than a certainty. If you are confident that something is indeed more difficult, use "definitely more difficult" or "certainly more difficult".