remained challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

"remained challenging" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that has stayed difficult or demanding over a period of time. Example: Despite our best efforts, the project remained challenging due to the constantly changing requirements from the client.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even so, his prose remained challenging.

The New Yorker

It said trading conditions remained "challenging".

The Guardian - Business

Both toymakers said the retail environment remained challenging.

The New York Times

Morgan said the outlook for the housing industry remained challenging.

The Guardian - Business

The chief executive, Gerard J. Arpey, said this year's outlook remained challenging.

The New York Times

"The trading environment for newspapers remained challenging in 2015 with continued pressures on circulation volumes and print advertising revenues," the company said.

The Guardian

Nokia's chairman and chief executive, Jorma Ollila, said Thursday that Nokia had seen positive developments in emerging markets, but that Europe and the United States remained challenging.

The New York Times

Shares in French Connection dived as much as 16% on Tuesday after the fashion retailer warned that trading remained "challenging" on the high street.

The Guardian - Business

He said trading remained "challenging and volatile" as Britons opted to spend spare cash on eating out and other leisure pursuits.

The Guardian - Business

Sales at established stores in the UK slid by 1.1% in the six months to 29 August and the group warned that trading conditions remained challenging.

The Guardian - Business

Invoking these approaches for GPCR targets has remained challenging.

Biochemical Pharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "remained challenging" with specific reasons or factors contributing to the continued difficulty to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "remained challenging" repetitively without providing specific details about the nature of the challenges. Vary your language to keep the writing engaging and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained challenging" functions as a descriptive element, typically an adjective phrase following a linking verb (such as 'remained'). It modifies a subject to indicate a state of continuing difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "remained challenging" serves to describe ongoing difficulties, and is deemed grammatically correct by Ludwig AI. It is widely used across diverse fields, from news and media to scientific research, implying that situations or tasks have not become simpler over time. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for formal and informal communication, as long as appropriate context is provided. When writing, avoid overuse by providing specific details to add depth and clarity. Alternatives such as "continued to be difficult" or "stayed problematic" can also be considered to enhance expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued to be difficult

Replaces "remained challenging" with a more descriptive phrase using "continued" and "difficult".

stayed problematic

Substitutes "challenging" with "problematic", focusing on the issues or difficulties encountered.

persisted in being tough

Replaces "remained" with "persisted" and "challenging" with "tough", emphasizing the endurance of the difficulty.

hasn't gotten easier

Uses a more informal and conversational tone to convey that the situation has not improved.

still presented difficulties

Highlights that challenges continued to arise, shifting focus to the act of presenting difficulties.

was consistently demanding

Emphasizes the consistent nature of the demands or requirements that made the situation difficult.

proved to be an ongoing struggle

Indicates an extended period of effort against difficulties.

never became simple

Highlights that the situation never achieved a state of simplicity or ease.

didn't diminish in complexity

Focuses on complexity as the key aspect of the challenge, clarifying that it did not lessen.

endured as an obstacle

Highlights that the challenge was an obstacle that endured.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "remained challenging" in a sentence?

Use "remained challenging" to show that a situation, task, or problem has not become easier over a period. For example, "Despite our efforts, the project "remained challenging" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "remained challenging"?

You can use phrases like "continued to be difficult", "stayed problematic", or "persisted in being tough" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "remained challenge" instead of "remained challenging"?

No, "remained challenge" is not grammatically correct. "Challenging" is an adjective describing the nature of something, while "challenge" is a noun. The correct phrase is ""remained challenging"".

What's the difference between ""remained challenging"" and "became challenging"?

"Remained challenging" indicates a situation that was already difficult and continued to be so. "Became challenging" suggests that the difficulty arose at some point in time, indicating a change in state.