significantly more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly more difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the level of difficulty of two or more tasks, situations, or concepts, indicating that one is much harder than the other. Example: "The new software update is significantly more difficult to navigate than the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This makes passing major reforms significantly more difficult.

The Guardian - Business

Older participants found the watch significantly more difficult to use.

Journal of Biomedical Informatics

But finding a tour gets significantly more difficult the more points you add.

The Guardian

However, it would make his path to the nomination significantly more difficult.

The Guardian

But it is unlikely that things will get significantly more difficult than they have done already.

The Guardian

For the doctors, the extraoral method was significantly more difficult than the other methods.

International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The geometric singularities of three-material interfaces are significantly more difficult to handle.

Journal of Computational Physics

It's a political argument and the politics of expanding Heathrow are significantly more difficult than the politics of expanding Gatwick".

The Guardian

Without the underpinning of these key advertising categories, maintaining sales becomes significantly more difficult, as today's publishers have found..

The Guardian

Unfortunately, designing a 3D network is significantly more difficult, as compared to designing a 2D network.

Ad Hoc Networks

In fact, it's significantly more difficult because you're often trying to balance more than one thing on your plate.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significantly more difficult", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared to what. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly more difficult" when the difference in difficulty is only marginal. Overstating the significance can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly more difficult" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (often implied) to indicate a substantial increase in the level of difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

37%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significantly more difficult" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize a substantial increase in the level of difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the comparison to avoid ambiguity. While it conveys a heightened challenge, avoid overstating the significance to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "considerably more challenging" or "substantially more complex" can provide subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably more challenging

Changes the adjective from "difficult" to "challenging", offering a slightly more positive connotation.

substantially more complex

Replaces "difficult" with "complex", focusing on the intricate nature of the task rather than just the difficulty.

appreciably harder

Uses "harder" instead of "difficult" and "appreciably" instead of "significantly", slightly reducing the formality.

markedly more problematic

Shifts the focus to the problems caused by the difficulty, rather than the difficulty itself.

noticeably tougher

Employs "tougher", which is less formal than "difficult", and "noticeably" instead of "significantly".

vastly more demanding

Changes the focus to the demands placed on the individual, emphasizing the intensity required.

decidedly more intricate

Highlights the complicated and detailed nature of something, rather than its overall difficulty.

demonstrably more onerous

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of the difficulty, suggesting it is a heavy load.

patently more taxing

Focuses on the draining aspect of the difficulty, implying it consumes a lot of energy.

unquestionably trickier

Uses "trickier" to suggest the difficulty involves cunning or strategy, making it less straightforward.

FAQs

How can I use "significantly more difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "significantly more difficult" to compare the difficulty of two tasks or situations, highlighting that one is considerably harder than the other. For instance, "The advanced course is "significantly more difficult" than the introductory one".

What are some alternatives to "significantly more difficult"?

Alternatives include "considerably more challenging", "substantially more complex", or "appreciably harder". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "significantly more difficult"?

While "difficult" already implies a degree of challenge, "significantly more difficult" emphasizes a substantial increase in the level of difficulty. The phrase is not inherently redundant but ensure that the "significance" adds meaningful emphasis in your context.

What's the difference between "significantly more difficult" and "slightly more difficult"?

"Significantly more difficult" indicates a large difference in difficulty, while "slightly more difficult" suggests only a small difference. The choice between them depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to convey. They are contrasting concepts on the spectrum of difficulty.