rather difficult for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather difficult for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is quite challenging for someone or something. Example: "The exam was rather difficult for the students who had not studied adequately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"If America wants to become a hegemonic power, it is rather difficult for other nations to prevent that," he wrote.

The New York Times

For instance, it's rather difficult for six friends to buy the exact amount of cocaine, in advance, that each of them wants to take that evening.

The Guardian - Opinion

While this stigma made life rather difficult for homosexual men, it also had an instructive, not to say repressive, effect on all men.

Independent

Vincent Peyregne, the Wan-Ifra chief executive, said: "It is rather difficult for the United Kingdom to lecture Sri Lanka and others about their press freedom record, when its own actions result in such widespread international condemnation.

The Guardian

One slight drawback is that Leibniz's articles spanned a wide variety of subjects – including philosophy, mathematics, geology, hydrology, horology, jurisprudence and insurance – which would have made it rather difficult for his imaginary research coordinator to choose a unit of assessment.

The Guardian

"I'm not saying we won't send a grandmother to Washington, but it's rather difficult for a 71-year-old woman to effectively conduct a door-to-door campaign against a well-financed, formidably entrenched opponent".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

We're going to have some slowdown in growth in capital spending and a rather difficult environment for exports.

Forbes

The evaluation of the drilling-induced delamination damage in these materials is rather difficult, particularly for the carbon fiber-based composites.

Composite Structures

However for the a posteriori method, some important information as regards the solution is concealed and hidden for the discrepancy principle, such that the theoretical analysis of the convergence rate is rather difficult obtain for some problems.

Boundary Value Problems

In spite of the apparent simplicity of equation (1.5), a throughout study of its solutions may be a rather difficult task for a general nonconstant weight function g ( t ).

Boundary Value Problems

We believe that this finding may be evidence of knowledge transfer, a goal in all teaching but a rather difficult task for students (McKeough et al., 1995; Perkins, 1999; Schonborn and Bogeholz, 2009).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather difficult for" when you want to express that something is not impossible, but presents significant challenges or obstacles for someone or something. It's more nuanced than simply saying "difficult."

Common error

Avoid using "rather difficult for" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound monotonous. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms like "quite challenging for" or "somewhat problematic for."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather difficult for" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something presents a significant challenge or obstacle. As seen in Ludwig, it typically introduces an explanation or reason for the difficulty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather difficult for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something presents a significant, yet not insurmountable, challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability across various contexts. It functions as an adjective phrase, often used in science, news, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's wise to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "quite challenging for" to maintain writing variety. Remember, while "rather difficult" suggests a moderate level of difficulty, "very difficult" implies a higher degree of challenge. Understanding these nuances helps refine your communication and accurately convey the intended level of complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite challenging for

Emphasizes the level of challenge involved, rather than just stating difficulty.

somewhat problematic for

Focuses on the issues or problems that arise from a situation.

not easy for

A simpler, more direct way of expressing difficulty.

a struggle for

Highlights the effort and struggle required.

poses a challenge to

Shifts the focus to the obstacle or challenge itself.

presents obstacles for

Similar to "poses a challenge", but more directly states the presence of obstacles.

hard to manage for

Focuses on the manageability aspect of the situation.

demanding on

Stresses the demanding nature of a situation.

imposes limitations on

Highlights the constraints and restrictions created by a situation.

creates complications for

Focuses on the resulting complications.

FAQs

How can I use "rather difficult for" in a sentence?

Use "rather difficult for" to describe something that presents a considerable challenge. For instance, "The exam was "rather difficult for" students who didn't prepare well."

What are some alternatives to "rather difficult for"?

You can use alternatives like "quite challenging for", "somewhat problematic for", or "not easy for" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "rather difficult for"?

It's suitable when you want to express that something is challenging but not necessarily impossible. It conveys a sense of moderate difficulty.

What's the difference between "rather difficult for" and "very difficult for"?

"Rather difficult for" implies a moderate level of difficulty, while "very difficult for" suggests a higher degree of challenge. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of difficulty you wish to convey.