proving difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"proving difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to an action or situation that is proving to be hard or challenging. For example: "We have been working on this project for months, but it is proving difficult to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Casting was also proving difficult.

Independent

This is proving difficult.

The Guardian - Books

Supply-side intervention is proving difficult.

The Economist

But that is proving difficult.

The New York Times

It was proving difficult to find.

The New York Times - Travel

The strategy is proving difficult to execute.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr Wolf is proving difficult to attack.

The Economist

The battle in Shaymaa was proving difficult.

The New Yorker

Concocting a conspiracy theory is proving difficult.

The Guardian - Sport

The northern European connection is proving difficult.

The Guardian - Money

But the tritium is proving difficult to manage.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proving difficult" to describe an ongoing situation or process that is encountering challenges or resistance. This implies the difficulty is not static but rather unfolding over time.

Common error

Do not use "proving difficult" to describe a completed action or a situation that is inherently difficult by nature. Instead, use it when referring to something that has become challenging over a period of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proving difficult" functions as a descriptor, indicating that a particular action, process, or situation is currently encountering or demonstrating challenges. Ludwig AI indicates this is correct and usable. The phrase often modifies a subject, highlighting the ongoing nature of the difficulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proving difficult" is a versatile descriptor used to indicate that an action or situation is currently encountering challenges. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific writing. While alternatives like "presenting challenges" or "posing problems" exist, "proving difficult" effectively conveys the ongoing nature of the difficulty. To make the best use of this phrase, use it when referring to unfolding situations and avoid using it to describe inherently difficult or completed actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presenting challenges

Focuses on the challenges posed, instead of the difficulty in accomplishing a task.

posing problems

Highlights the problems emerging from a situation, differing from the difficulty itself.

turning out to be hard

Uses a more descriptive and less formal tone compared to the original phrase.

becoming problematic

Emphasizes the problematic nature of a situation as it develops, rather than just the difficulty.

facing obstacles

Shifts the focus to the obstacles encountered, instead of the overarching difficulty.

encountering hurdles

Similar to "facing obstacles" but uses a different metaphor for the challenges.

not being easy

A more straightforward and simple way of expressing difficulty.

creating complications

Concentrates on the complications arising, changing the nuance from difficulty.

meeting resistance

Implies facing opposition or resistance, which causes difficulty.

proving troublesome

Uses a different adjective to describe the difficulty, suggesting annoyance or worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "proving difficult" to describe a situation that is currently encountering challenges. For example, "The project is "proving difficult" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "proving difficult"?

Alternatives include "presenting challenges", "posing problems", or "turning out to be hard" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is proving difficult" or "proves difficult"?

"Is proving difficult" is generally more appropriate when describing an ongoing situation. "Proves difficult" might be used to describe a general characteristic, but it's less common.

What's the difference between "proving difficult" and "difficult"?

"Proving difficult" suggests that something is becoming challenging over time, whereas "difficult" simply describes something that is inherently hard or challenging.