rather arduous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather arduous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or activity that is quite difficult or demanding. Example: "The journey through the mountains was rather arduous, requiring both physical strength and mental endurance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

However, the processes of a CRS are often proved to be rather arduous and time consuming.

Computers & Electrical Engineering

It was a 34-day trip, elegantly planned, and though rather arduous, exceedingly adventuresome.

The New York Times - Travel

Dave Fishley's hapless Grey – the Mr Cellophane of the high seas – adds a welcome touch of levity to a rather arduous voyage.

The Guardian

It is rather arduous to evaluate the overall performance of passenger transfer when the performance is attributed by both quantifiable factors and subjective perceptions which are on different scales and bounds of evaluation.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

Mr. Ramirez, who shared a cell with Mr. Sharpton before their transfer from Puerto Rico, said, "I have learned to enjoy his sense of humor, a rather arduous task, if I may say so".

The New York Times

or For the all-round green experience, it is possible to get to Poprad by train, but it is a rather arduous experience - going from London via Paris, Munich, and Vienna (25 hours) is the fastest way.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Due to the heavy computational work required for a large number of simulations, it is rather an arduous task to determine optimum design schemes for a given project.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

This is rather more arduous for monitoring tools compared to the previous scenario.

Journal of Cloud Computing

After granting permission, filling in the info takes only a few clicks, rather than arduous mobile typing.

TechCrunch

Having somebody to accompany you on your workouts can make exercise feel like fun rather than arduous work.

WikiHow

The homework problems that generated the most confusion among my students were not particularly long, complicated, or computationally arduous; rather, the difficult problems were the ones which involved formulating a rigorous argument.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather arduous", consider the context and audience. It fits well in formal or semi-formal writing where you want to convey a significant level of difficulty without being overly dramatic. Ensure the surrounding sentences support the description with specific details about the difficulty involved.

Common error

Avoid using "rather arduous" when describing tasks that are only mildly inconvenient. Overusing strong adjectives can diminish their impact. Reserve this phrase for situations that genuinely involve considerable effort or complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather arduous" functions as an intensifier-adjective construction, where the adverb "rather" modifies and enhances the meaning of the adjective "arduous". It serves to describe something as significantly difficult or requiring considerable effort. Ludwig shows usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather arduous" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe something as quite difficult or demanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples of its use in various contexts, mainly within News & Media, Scientific, and Business domains. While "rather arduous" isn't a very common expression, it adds a nuanced description of difficulty. If you are looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "somewhat challenging" or "fairly strenuous", but be mindful of the slight shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat challenging

Replaces "arduous" with "challenging" and "rather" with "somewhat", softening the intensity of the difficulty.

moderately difficult

Replaces "arduous" with "difficult" and "rather" with "moderately", providing a more general description of the level of difficulty.

fairly strenuous

Substitutes "arduous" with "strenuous" and "rather" with "fairly", emphasizing the effort required.

somewhat laborious

Replaces "arduous" with "laborious", emphasizing the effort and time involved, and "rather" with "somewhat".

quite taxing

Uses "taxing" to replace "arduous", highlighting the draining aspect of the task, and "quite" for "rather".

reasonably demanding

Employs "demanding" instead of "arduous", focusing on the requirements of the task, and "reasonably" instead of "rather".

slightly grueling

Substitutes "arduous" with "grueling", suggesting a more intense and exhausting experience, and "rather" with "slightly".

pretty onerous

Uses "onerous" to replace "arduous", highlighting the burdensome nature, and "pretty" for "rather".

a bit tough

Replaces "arduous" with the more informal "tough" and "rather" with "a bit", reducing the formality.

kind of challenging

Uses the informal "kind of" to replace "rather" and "challenging" instead of "arduous", which is more approachable.

FAQs

How can I use "rather arduous" in a sentence?

Use "rather arduous" to describe tasks or journeys that are quite difficult or demanding. For example: "The research process proved "rather arduous" due to the limited availability of data."

What are some alternatives to "rather arduous"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "somewhat challenging", "fairly strenuous", or "moderately difficult". Each carries a slightly different nuance regarding the level of effort required.

Is it correct to say "quite arduous" instead of "rather arduous"?

Yes, "quite arduous" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Both "quite" and "rather" function similarly to intensify the adjective "arduous". They are largely interchangeable in this context.

What is the difference between "arduous" and "challenging"?

"Arduous" emphasizes the effort and stamina required to complete a task, suggesting it is long and tiring. "Challenging", on the other hand, focuses on the mental or problem-solving aspects of the task, implying it requires ingenuity and skill. Therefore, a task can be both, but using "rather challenging" is correct.