relatively difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"relatively difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing something to other things that are more difficult. For example: "The math homework was relatively difficult compared to the other assignments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mergers and takeovers are still relatively difficult.

The New York Times

"It's relatively difficult to get there.

The New York Times - Travel

"It's still relatively difficult to get in rural areas".

The New York Times

Second, his poetry is relatively difficult to find.

The New York Times - Books

"If we sell no cars, it will get relatively difficult".

The Guardian - Business

Even then, it is relatively difficult to pick up.

The New Yorker

14 mins: O'Gara sends a relatively difficult kick to the left and wide.

The Guardian - Sport

By contrast, he added, "I took a relatively difficult place to manage, and managed it well.

The New York Times

Wine is certainly an alternative investment, and a relatively difficult one to own.

The New York Times

Then, from there on, I think it still becomes relatively difficult to get proper financing.

The New York Times

Plastic explosives like C-4 are expensive and relatively difficult for terrorist groups to obtain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively difficult" when you want to indicate that something is not easy, but not extremely hard either. It's a good way to show a moderate level of challenge without exaggeration.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively difficult" when the situation warrants stronger language like "extremely challenging" or "nearly impossible". Using "relatively difficult" in such scenarios can downplay the true severity of the situation and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively difficult" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the degree of difficulty of the subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable English expression. The examples show it qualifying tasks, concepts, and situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relatively difficult" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express a moderate level of challenge or complexity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. It's particularly common in scientific and news-related content, and its usage suggests a desire to provide a balanced and nuanced assessment. When using this phrase, remember to avoid overstating the difficulty and consider alternative phrases if a stronger or more specific term is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat challenging

Replaces "relatively difficult" with a term that highlights the aspect of presenting a challenge.

moderately complex

Shifts the focus from difficulty to the level of complexity involved.

fairly complicated

Emphasizes the intricacy and potential for confusion.

reasonably demanding

Indicates that the task requires a good amount of effort and focus.

not a piece of cake

An idiom expressing that something is not easy without quantifying.

a bit of a challenge

Highlights the presence of obstacles or hurdles.

not entirely straightforward

Suggests that there may be hidden complexities or unexpected steps.

posing some difficulties

Focuses on the act of presenting obstacles or challenges.

involving some complexity

Replaces the 'difficult' aspect with an emphasis on the level of intricacy.

presenting moderate hurdles

Highlights the aspect of obstacles and quantifies it by using the word moderate.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively difficult" to describe tasks, concepts, or situations that pose some challenges but are not insurmountable. For example: "The exam was relatively difficult compared to the practice tests."

What are some alternatives to "relatively difficult"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "somewhat challenging", "moderately complex", or "fairly complicated".

Is it correct to say "quite difficult" instead of "relatively difficult"?

Yes, "quite difficult" is a valid alternative. While "relatively difficult" implies a comparison, "quite difficult" simply indicates a notable degree of difficulty. Both are acceptable depending on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "relatively difficult" and "practically difficult"?

"Relatively difficult" suggests a comparative level of difficulty, whereas "practically difficult" implies that real-world constraints or limitations make something hard to achieve or implement.