rate of difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rate of difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the level of challenge associated with a task, activity, or subject matter. Example: "The rate of difficulty for this math problem increases significantly as you progress through the levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I can't understand why observers are surprised at the high rate of difficulty taking AIDS drugs ("AIDS Care in Rural China Now Better Than Nothing," news article, Nov. 21).

The New York Times

Problems related to sleep onset and maintenance were most commonly reported, and teens were noted to have a higher rate of difficulty in this area as compared to children.

BMC Gastroenterology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Several studies address the topic of obesity and neuraxial analgesia in general, but few offer well described definitions or rates of "difficulty" and "failure" of labor epidural analgesia.

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia

Typing performance and subjective rating of difficulty in using the keyboards were also significantly different among the 3 types of computers.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

It is therefore of concern that vulnerable youth report high rates of difficulty accessing addiction treatment [ 30, 31].

BMC Public Health

Despite a number of demographic differences, both younger and middle-aged adults reported similar rates of difficulty paying for health care.

BMC Health Services Research

The greatest rates of difficulty were found in the pain/discomfort dimension, with half of the sample reporting either some problems (n = 52; 40.0%) or extreme problems (n = 13; 10.0%).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The NCAS demonstrated the ability to capture changes in nurses' rating of difficulty regarding dementia patients' characteristics in a year-long study of a care intervention [ 16].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

However, finding that the rating of difficulty in accessing a doctor was associated with anticipated time to help-seeking gave some reassurance of internal consistency.

British Journal of Cancer

Across the set of sounds, subject responses to (i) provided an index of frequency of correct identification while (ii) provided a rating of difficulty of identification for each sound.

Brain

The great majority of the 130 participants reported no problems on the EQ-5D self-care item (n = 120; 92.3%), while the other four dimension items reflected greater rates of difficulty.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rate of difficulty", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is becoming difficult. For instance, specify the task or skill to which the difficulty applies, such as "the rate of difficulty in learning a new language".

Common error

Avoid using "rate of difficulty" when simply referring to the existence of difficulty. "Level of difficulty" might be better suited to express the state of being difficult rather than how quickly something becomes difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rate of difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object in a sentence. It describes the progression or speed at which something becomes challenging. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in academic and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rate of difficulty" is a valid and understandable noun phrase used to describe how quickly something becomes challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples from both scientific and news sources. While not exceedingly common, it serves a specific purpose in quantifying the progression of difficulty. Consider alternatives like "level of difficulty" or "degree of difficulty" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Use it when you need to emphasize the speed at which a task transitions from easy to hard. Be mindful of clarity and context, ensuring the difficulty's subject is clearly specified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Level of difficulty

Replaces "rate" with "level" focusing on the measure of difficulty rather than its progression.

Degree of difficulty

Substitutes "rate" with "degree", emphasizing the extent of difficulty.

Pace of difficulty

Emphasizes how quickly the difficulty increases.

Challenge level

A more concise term replacing the phrase with a compound noun

Index of difficulty

Presents difficulty as a value on a specific scale.

Difficulty score

Quantifies difficulty, implying a numerical evaluation.

Magnitude of difficulty

Highlights the intensity or size of the difficulty.

Severity of difficulty

Underscores the seriousness or intensity of the difficulty.

Progression of difficulty

Focuses on how difficulty evolves or advances over time.

Intensity of the challenge

Shifts focus to the intensity of the challenge itself.

FAQs

How can I use "rate of difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "rate of difficulty" to describe how quickly something becomes challenging, such as "The "rate of difficulty" increases sharply in the later stages of the course".

What's the difference between "level of difficulty" and "rate of difficulty"?

"Level of difficulty" refers to the static degree of challenge, while ""rate of difficulty"" describes how quickly the difficulty increases. For instance, a task might have a high "level of difficulty", but a slow ""rate of difficulty"".

What are some alternatives to "rate of difficulty"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "level of difficulty", "degree of difficulty", or "challenge level".

Is "rate of difficulty" formal or informal?

"Rate of difficulty" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in analytical or descriptive writing. Simpler alternatives like "challenge level" may be preferred in informal settings.