somewhat tricky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat tricky" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is not straightforward and may require extra thought or effort to navigate. Example: "The math problem was somewhat tricky, but I managed to solve it after a few attempts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

I found it somewhat tricky.

The New York Times - Food

Ethnic-based predictions are somewhat tricky.

The New York Times

But the flight attendant, it turned out, wanted wardrobe advice for a somewhat tricky wedding.

The New York Times

That gets somewhat tricky in an economy with a lot of excess capacity.

The Economist

And this is where the huge and ever-growing enthusiasm for fake meat becomes somewhat tricky.

The Guardian

North Carolina's ban is more straightforward, but still somewhat tricky, to predict.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Measuring the planet's mass was a somewhat trickier endeavor.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Predicting what courses will succeed is somewhat trickier.

The Guardian

Somewhat trickier to explain is the failure of city folk to engage with the sport.

The Guardian - Sport

A somewhat trickier issue about the categorisation of Sedaris's work arose in 2007 when the journalist Alex Heard wrote an article questioning whether Sedaris's stories are as true as he claimed.

The Guardian - Books

"The public-relations part of Start-Up Chile has been much more successful than even we dreamed," gushes Juan Andrés Fontaine, a former economy minister who gave a green light to Mr Shea's idea.Gauging the programme's impact on Chile's entrepreneurial ecosystem is somewhat trickier, but it appears to have had a positive effect.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat tricky" to describe situations that require careful handling or a nuanced approach, avoiding stronger terms when the difficulty is not severe.

Common error

While "somewhat tricky" is versatile, overuse in formal writing can diminish impact. Balance its use with more precise synonyms like "moderately challenging" or "slightly complex" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat tricky" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate level of difficulty or complexity. Ludwig examples show it describing tasks, concepts, or situations that require careful navigation or handling. The Ludwig AI states that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat tricky" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations or tasks that present a moderate level of difficulty. Ludwig examples showcase its versatility across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While the phrase is widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's important to consider the specific context and audience when choosing between "somewhat tricky" and more precise alternatives. In more formal settings, alternatives like "moderately challenging" or "slightly complex" might be more appropriate. The phrase's neutral tone makes it suitable for a broad range of applications, but careful consideration of register is always advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately challenging

Replaces "tricky" with "challenging" and "somewhat" with "moderately", indicating a similar level of difficulty.

slightly complex

Substitutes "tricky" with "complex" and "somewhat" with "slightly", suggesting a similar nuance of complication.

a bit difficult

Replaces "somewhat tricky" with a more common and informal expression, "a bit difficult".

relatively complicated

Substitutes "tricky" with "complicated" and "somewhat" with "relatively", conveying a similar sense of mild complexity.

somewhat convoluted

Replaces "tricky" with "convoluted", implying a more intricate and perhaps unnecessarily complex situation.

a little problematic

Shifts the focus from difficulty to potential problems, while maintaining a similar level of concern.

not entirely straightforward

Offers a more formal and descriptive alternative, highlighting the lack of simplicity.

mildly perplexing

Replaces "tricky" with "perplexing", emphasizing the confusing or puzzling aspect of the situation.

a tad intricate

Uses "intricate" to suggest a detailed and complex nature, with "a tad" being a more informal equivalent of "somewhat".

kind of thorny

Replaces "tricky" with "thorny", suggesting a situation filled with potential difficulties and challenges.

FAQs

What does "somewhat tricky" mean?

The phrase "somewhat tricky" means that something is a little difficult or complicated, but not overwhelmingly so. It suggests a moderate level of challenge or complexity.

How to use "somewhat tricky" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat tricky" to describe a task, situation, or concept that requires extra thought or effort. For example, "Navigating the new software was "somewhat tricky" at first, but I quickly got the hang of it."

What can I say instead of "somewhat tricky"?

You can use alternatives like "moderately challenging", "slightly complex", or "a bit difficult" depending on the context.

Is "somewhat tricky" formal or informal?

"Somewhat tricky" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from more precise or sophisticated alternatives.