rather trying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather trying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or experience that is challenging or difficult, often in a somewhat understated or polite manner. Example: "The meeting was rather trying, with numerous technical issues and a lack of clear direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Or, rather, trying to reshape one.

The New York Times

Noël Coward had a rather trying war.

The Guardian

In fact, he had two rather trying wars.

The Guardian

We find public professions of journalistic saintliness rather trying.

The New Yorker

"I find all the hysteria they seem to involve rather trying," she said.

The New York Times

He has mentioned that he finds long stories about complicated subjects to be rather trying.

The New Yorker

In the concerts, Jingle Punks isn't championing certain material but rather trying to illustrate that, depending on the setting, even familiar music can surprise and amuse.

The New York Times

"Never believing that one's language is an X-ray of a character's soul, but rather trying to show the manipulative potential of language".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

But I'd rather try before I buy.

Cornell University

I'd rather try my luck with Shippea Hill.

The Guardian

I'd rather try to figure it out by myself".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather trying" to politely express that something is difficult or unpleasant without being overly negative. This phrasing is suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "rather trying" in casual conversations can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a bit tough" or "kind of difficult" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather trying" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality. It indicates a degree of difficulty or unpleasantness. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used to soften the description of something difficult.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather trying" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe something as somewhat difficult or unpleasant. With a 'Correct' grammatical status according to Ludwig AI, it is commonly found in news and media, science, and academic contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral leaning towards formal, its mild tone allows for polite and understated expression. When writing, be mindful of overuse in informal settings, where alternatives may be more appropriate. Examples include "somewhat challenging", "quite difficult", or "a bit difficult".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat challenging

Replaces "trying" with "challenging" and "rather" with "somewhat", softening the intensity slightly.

quite difficult

Substitutes "trying" with "difficult" and "rather" with "quite", providing a more direct expression of difficulty.

a bit difficult

Uses "a bit" instead of "rather" and "difficult" instead of "trying", indicating a milder level of challenge.

somewhat unpleasant

Replaces "trying" with "unpleasant", shifting the focus to the unpleasant nature of the experience.

slightly taxing

Substitutes "rather" with "slightly" and "trying" with "taxing", suggesting a mild drain on one's resources.

moderately difficult

Uses "moderately" instead of "rather" to describe the level of difficulty.

a little bothersome

Replaces "rather" with "a little" and "trying" with "bothersome", downplaying the severity of the situation.

somewhat frustrating

Replaces "trying" with "frustrating", highlighting the frustrating aspect of the experience.

a touch arduous

Employs "a touch" in place of "rather" and "arduous" instead of "trying", lending a slightly more formal tone.

noticeably inconvenient

Replaces "trying" with "inconvenient", emphasizing the inconvenience caused, and uses "noticeably" instead of "rather".

FAQs

What does "rather trying" mean?

The phrase "rather trying" means something is somewhat difficult, unpleasant, or testing one's patience. It's a mild way to express that something is challenging.

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

You can use "rather trying" to describe an experience, situation, or person. For example, "The journey was "rather trying" due to the heavy traffic", or "He can be "rather trying" when he's tired".

What can I say instead of "rather trying"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat challenging", "quite difficult", or "a bit difficult" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "rather trying" formal or informal?

The phrase "rather trying" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While appropriate in many contexts, it might sound a bit stiff in very casual conversations. Consider using a more informal alternative such as "a bit tough" or "kind of difficult".