so difficult that

USAGE SUMMARY

'so difficult that' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is difficult to a extreme degree; for example: "The math problem was so difficult that I had to ask for help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Enrichment is so difficult that successful production is quite valuable.

The New York Times - Science

So the CSU must make Mrs Merkel's life difficult; just not so difficult that she fails.

The Economist

Can tweeting really be so difficult that it must be explained in such terms?

The Guardian

"It was so difficult that no government wanted to face this problem," Mr. Kilijanek said.

The New York Times

The caprices were so difficult that he resumed lessons with Harms, his college teacher.

The New Yorker

The journey was so difficult that four of these men ended up dead from hypothermia.

The New York Times - Magazine

I don't want to give something so difficult that they can't do it.

The New York Times

But predicting the future is so difficult that such judgments are very arbitrary.

The Guardian

But coming up with that definition has become so difficult that the commission has postponed votes three times.

The New York Times

"But the situation at Canal Plus was so difficult that knowledge of the industry was not a priority".

The New York Times - Tech

"Australia's whole underlying strategy … is to make conditions in offshore detention so difficult that people will give up.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so difficult that" to clearly link a high level of difficulty with a resulting consequence or outcome. This provides a strong cause-and-effect relationship in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "so difficult that" repetitively in close proximity. Vary your sentence structure with synonyms or alternative phrasing to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so difficult that" functions as an adverbial intensifier followed by a conjunction. It modifies an adjective or adverb to emphasize the degree of difficulty, subsequently linking it to a consequence or result. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "so difficult that" is a versatile and grammatically correct construction used to emphasize a high degree of difficulty and connect it with a resulting consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. While its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal settings, it's essential to avoid overuse and vary sentence structures for optimal clarity and engagement. Remember to use "so difficult that" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship, enhancing the impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently challenging that

Indicates a level of difficulty that meets a specific requirement or threshold.

exceedingly challenging that

Emphasizes the extreme degree of difficulty involved.

incredibly complex that

Highlights the intricacy and complicated nature of the subject.

too complicated for

Implies that something surpasses a person's ability to understand or deal with it.

so intricate that

Focuses on the elaborate and detailed nature of the difficulty.

so formidable that

Suggests the difficulty is intimidating and hard to overcome.

so demanding that

Highlights the high requirements and effort needed.

so taxing that

Implies that something is draining and puts a strain on resources or abilities.

so problematic that

Highlights the troubling and potentially negative consequences arising from the difficulty.

so arduous that

Focuses on the tiring and laborious nature of the challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "so difficult that" in a sentence?

The phrase "so difficult that" is used to indicate that something is extremely challenging, often leading to a specific outcome. For example, "The exam was "so difficult that" many students failed".

What phrases are similar to "so difficult that"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently challenging that", "exceedingly challenging that", or "incredibly complex that", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "so difficult that" formal or informal?

"So difficult that" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as it's grammatically correct and widely understood. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

Can "so difficult that" be replaced with "too difficult to"?

While both express a high degree of difficulty, "so difficult that" emphasizes a consequential outcome, whereas "too difficult to" focuses on the inability to perform an action. For example, "The puzzle was "so difficult that" I gave up" versus "The puzzle was "too difficult to" solve".