quite difficult question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite difficult question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that poses a significant challenge or requires deep thought to answer. Example: "The exam included a quite difficult question that stumped many students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is a quite difficult question to answer.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There are still a lot of quite difficult questions here for the ethicist: not just the bioethics of using human beings in experiments, but also the question of whether drug use in mountaineering is more acceptable than drug use in, say, marathon running (and if so, why).

The Guardian

This degree raises quite difficult questions: Do all splice isoforms have functional significance?

BMC Genomics

Who makes the best MP for this constituency?' After that [2017] result, the voters won't believe that next time… it's going to be quite a difficult question to face up to, how we approach the doorsteps next time".

Vice

That's quite a difficult question to answer, and will have to be developed over time for people to find value in their lives that aren't just a matter of their job.

Vice

It's a fundamental question that marketers attempt to understand and in the world of fundraising the question is more "Why do people give?" It's quite a difficult question to answer as people have different backgrounds and personalities and as such have different reasons for giving, or not giving (if you want to learn more about your own giving, you can take a neat giving personality quiz here).

Huffington Post

As a founder, it is quite difficult to answer that question because there are always new ideas to think over, people in our networks to keep in touch with, strategies to evaluate and discuss, etc.–at any time of the day or night.

Forbes

In the absence of historical data it is quite difficult to answer this question.

BMC Ecology

Touchingly, given the importance, urgency and frequency of sex in bird life, it becomes quite difficult to answer the big question: do birds enjoy lovemaking?

The Guardian

Since biological systems are quite complicated, resulting in high-dimensional data, it is quite difficult to answer all biological questions with a single approach.

Advances and Applications in Bioinformatics and Chemistry

Since the length of the test is about four hours, it is quite difficult to solve all the questions unless you are well prepared.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "quite difficult question", ensure that the context clearly indicates what makes the question challenging. Provide specific examples or details to support this assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "quite difficult question" when a simpler term like "complex question" would suffice. Overusing intensifiers can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite difficult question" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "question". It serves to describe the nature of the question, indicating that it poses a significant challenge or requires considerable thought. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite difficult question" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a question that presents a significant challenge. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is accurate. While its usage spans various contexts, it's prevalent in news, media, and scientific discussions. When employing this phrase, it's essential to provide context regarding the nature of the difficulty. Alternatives such as "rather challenging question" or "moderately complex question" can offer nuanced variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather challenging question

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "quite" with "rather", maintaining the overall meaning.

fairly tough question

Substitutes "difficult" with "tough" and "quite" with "fairly", indicating a moderately challenging question.

moderately complex question

Replaces "difficult" with "complex" and "quite" with "moderately", focusing on the question's intricacy.

somewhat perplexing question

Uses "perplexing" instead of "difficult" and "somewhat" instead of "quite", suggesting a question that causes confusion.

remarkably intricate question

Replaces "difficult" with "intricate" and "quite" with "remarkably", emphasizing the detailed nature of the question.

especially demanding question

Substitutes "difficult" with "demanding" and "quite" with "especially", highlighting the effort required to answer the question.

particularly problematic question

Uses "problematic" instead of "difficult" and "particularly" instead of "quite", suggesting a question that poses specific issues.

substantially complex question

Replaces "difficult" with "complex" and "quite" with "substantially", indicating a significant level of complexity.

not an easy question

Offers a more direct way of saying that the question is difficult.

a tough question to crack

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the difficulty of the question.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "quite difficult question" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "substantially complex question" or "particularly problematic question", which convey a similar meaning with a heightened level of formality.

What are some less formal alternatives to "quite difficult question"?

In less formal contexts, you can use phrases such as "not an easy question" or "a tough question to crack" to express the difficulty in a more relaxed manner.

Is "quite difficult question" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, "quite difficult question" is generally acceptable in academic writing. However, consider more precise alternatives like "moderately complex question" or "remarkably intricate question" if you want to convey a specific nuance of difficulty.

When should I avoid using the phrase "quite difficult question"?

Avoid using "quite difficult question" if the question is only mildly challenging. In such cases, a simpler phrase like "a tricky question" or "a challenging question" may be more appropriate.