pretty difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty difficult" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "Completing the assignment was pretty difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That's pretty difficult to do".

The New York Times - Sports

That makes it pretty difficult".

The New York Times

London's pretty difficult right now".

The Guardian

"It's intellectually pretty difficult," Mr. Frank said.

The New York Times

But by that time it's pretty difficult.

The New York Times - Magazine

We went through some pretty difficult times.

The Guardian - Arts

I know it's a pretty difficult fate.

The New York Times

"The last two kilometers are pretty difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

David: Managing people is pretty difficult.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

From the journal of Kekquakeà: "The wind was pretty difficult..

The New Yorker

It's pretty difficult to hit".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty difficult" when you want to convey that something is challenging but not impossible. It softens the intensity compared to "very difficult".

Common error

While "pretty difficult" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less professional. Substitute with more formal synonyms like "quite challenging" or "considerably demanding" in academic or business contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty difficult" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree of difficulty, indicating that something is challenging but not extremely so. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

13%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty difficult" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to express a moderate degree of challenge. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and acceptable for use in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. While versatile, be mindful of the formality level, opting for more sophisticated synonyms in highly formal settings. Remember that "pretty difficult" softens the degree of difficulty compared to phrases like "very difficult". The wide range of examples available on Ludwig provide ample context for understanding its appropriate use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "pretty" with "quite", suggesting a test of one's abilities.

rather arduous

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous" and "pretty" with "rather", indicating a task requiring considerable effort.

somewhat taxing

Replaces "difficult" with "taxing" and "pretty" with "somewhat", suggesting a strain on one's resources or energy.

moderately demanding

Changes "difficult" to "demanding" and "pretty" to "moderately", implying a requirement of significant effort or skill.

fairly problematic

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and "pretty" with "fairly", indicating the presence of issues or obstacles.

reasonably tough

Substitutes "difficult" with "tough" and "pretty" with "reasonably", implying resilience is needed.

considerably intricate

Changes "difficult" to "intricate" and "pretty" to "considerably", highlighting complexity and detail.

noticeably complicated

Replaces "difficult" with "complicated" and "pretty" with "noticeably", emphasizing the complex nature of something.

distinctly awkward

Substitutes "difficult" with "awkward" and "pretty" with "distinctly", highlighting uneasiness.

genuinely trying

Changes "difficult" to "trying" and "pretty" to "genuinely", emphasizing the frustrating nature.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty difficult" to describe a task, situation, or concept that is challenging but not insurmountable. For example, "The exam was "pretty difficult", but I managed to pass".

What can I say instead of "pretty difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "quite challenging", "rather arduous", or "somewhat taxing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "pretty difficult" or "very difficult"?

"Pretty difficult" and "very difficult" are both grammatically correct, but they differ in intensity. "Very difficult" suggests a higher degree of challenge than ""pretty difficult"".

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

"Slightly difficult" indicates a minor challenge, while ""pretty difficult"" suggests a more substantial obstacle. The choice depends on the degree of difficulty you want to express.