proving to be more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proving to be more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation that has increased in difficulty or that has had a difficult outcome. For example: "The exam was proving to be more difficult than anticipated, and many students were struggling to complete the questions in the allotted time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But complying is proving to be more difficult than expected for employers.

The New York Times

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman: "It's a difficult job and it's proving to be more difficult that I thought but I feel very confident we can do it.

BBC

All that's left is convincing WMP to sync with the Zune, something that's proving to be more difficult than Zune fans would like to hear.

TechCrunch

"Clearly doing business in some emerging markets is proving to be more difficult than previously expected," said Michael Kovacocy, an analyst with Daiwa Institute of Research, who rated the stock "sell".

Forbes

Although genome-wide expression profiling is an excellent method for generating long lists of candidates, it is proving to be more difficult to develop follow-on approaches to select critical genes.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

"This implies that sales to the consumer are proving to be more difficult than we would have expected," said Richard Windsor, global technology specialist at investment bank Nomura, who had expected an average selling price of 300 euros.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But getting results may prove to be more difficult than they imagine.

The New York Times

But wireless connectivity, although possible through third-party products, proved to be more difficult.

The New York Times

But coming up with the right concoction for diet frozen carbonated beverages proved to be more difficult than it sounds.

The New York Times

But I think everyone admits that doing so has proven to be more difficult than anyone anticipated".

The New York Times

The second step in establishing his liability, however, may prove to be more difficult for the C.F.T.C.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "proving to be more difficult", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the initial expectations were, to highlight the contrast with the current, more challenging situation.

Common error

Avoid using "proving to be more difficult" when the difficulty was already known or expected from the start. The phrase works best when describing a situation that unexpectedly becomes harder than initially perceived.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proving to be more difficult" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, often acting as part of the predicate. It describes a situation or task that is currently demonstrating a higher level of difficulty than initially anticipated. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proving to be more difficult" is a grammatically sound and contextually versatile expression used to describe situations that unexpectedly increase in challenge. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. While the phrase is correct to use, ensure that the context establishes initial expectations to emphasize the contrast. Alternatives like "turning out to be harder" and "becoming increasingly challenging" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, making it a reliable choice for expressing unforeseen challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turning out to be harder

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the difficulty that's emerging.

becoming increasingly challenging

Highlights the ongoing and escalating nature of the difficulty.

posing a greater challenge

Focuses on the active way the situation creates difficulty.

presenting unforeseen obstacles

Stresses the unexpected appearance of hindrances.

exceeding initial expectations of difficulty

Highlights that the actual difficulty surpasses what was first thought.

turning out to be more complex than anticipated

Specifically refers to an increase in complexity rather than simple difficulty.

more arduous than expected

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous", emphasizing the effort required.

becoming progressively tougher

Uses "tougher" as a synonym for "more difficult", indicating increasing resistance.

proving more troublesome than originally thought

Shifts the focus to the problem-causing aspect of the difficulty.

more uphill than envisioned

Uses the metaphor of an "uphill" struggle to convey increasing difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "proving to be more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "proving to be more difficult" to describe situations where something is turning out to be harder than initially anticipated. For instance, "The project is proving to be more difficult than we originally estimated."

What are some alternatives to "proving to be more difficult"?

Alternatives include phrases like "turning out to be harder", "becoming increasingly challenging", or "posing a greater challenge", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "prove to be more difficult" instead of "proving to be more difficult"?

Yes, "prove to be more difficult" and "proving to be more difficult" are both grammatically correct, but they have slightly different usages. "Prove" suggests a future outcome, while "proving" suggests something that is currently unfolding.

What's the difference between "difficult" and "challenging" when using "proving to be more"?

"Difficult" generally implies a higher degree of effort or skill required to overcome an obstacle. "Challenging" often suggests that the situation is testing one's abilities and can lead to growth. Both can be used with "proving to be more", depending on the specific context.