specifically difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "specifically difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is difficult in a particular or precise way. Example: "The math problem was specifically difficult due to its complex variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In this domain, where both transmittance and reflectance of most materials are very low, the measurement of optical constants is specifically difficult, and optical data are consequently often either inexistent or uncertain.

Optics Communications

Also, HPV 18 infections have been described as being specifically difficult to detect histologically and may therefore lead to a false negative histological diagnosis [17].

Plosone

Risk estimation without prediction rules may be specifically difficult if several risk factors are only mildly or moderately elevated.

BMC Family Practice

The differential diagnosing of MDD, GAD and SAD is specifically difficult in adolescence, since the diagnoses are highly co-morbid [ 47].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Extremely different working habits, concerning for example usual length of consultations or participation in continuing medical education, were specifically difficult to deal with.

BMC Family Practice

This will occur under conditions where the rate of folding is slow, a result of proteins that are specifically difficult to fold, or a result of the overall ER folding capacity being saturated.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The system is developed to improve forecasting accuracy specifically on difficult days like hot, cold and special days.

Electric Power Systems Research

It comes down to how each team handles "needs" versus "wants," and specifically how difficult it is for fans and NFL experts to discern when and where teams should and could follow each path.

Huffington Post

A number of potential treatments are available to reduce pain generally (NSAIDs or paracetamol), or inflammation in RA and OA however control of rheumatic pain specifically is difficult.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

They used electric fields to drive chemo compounds specifically into difficult-to-treat tumors in animals, dramatically increasing the drugs' concentration within the tumor and shrinking it.

Science Magazine

Among the existing BSS algorithms, four main ones have emerged to specifically tackle the difficult problem of EEG data denoising.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "specifically difficult" to emphasize that the difficulty arises from particular aspects or conditions, rather than being generally hard. This highlights the nuanced nature of the challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "specifically difficult" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "very hard" or "especially tough" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "specifically difficult" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. Specifically intensifies and qualifies the adjective difficult, indicating a particular or precise aspect of the difficulty. Ludwig provides examples showing usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "specifically difficult" is a grammatically sound and uncommon expression used to emphasize that something is challenging due to particular reasons or conditions. Analysis shows that it is primarily found in science and news media sources. To avoid errors, it's best to reserve "specifically difficult" for formal or technical contexts where precision is valued. For less formal scenarios, it's recommended to use alternatives such as "especially hard" or "particularly challenging". As Ludwig confirms, this phrase can be helpful in specifying the exact nature of a difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "specifically" with "particularly", offering a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the demanding nature.

especially hard

Substitutes "specifically" with "especially" and "difficult" with "hard", making it sound less formal and focusing on the effort required.

uniquely problematic

Changes "difficult" to "problematic" and "specifically" to "uniquely", highlighting the distinct issues caused by the difficulty.

distinctly arduous

Replaces "specifically" with "distinctly" and "difficult" with "arduous", increasing formality and intensity of the difficulty.

peculiarly tough

Uses "peculiarly" instead of "specifically" and "tough" for "difficult", suggesting the difficulty is strange or unusual.

singularly taxing

Replaces "specifically" with "singularly" and "difficult" with "taxing", indicating the difficulty drains resources or energy.

exceptionally complicated

Substitutes "specifically" with "exceptionally" and "difficult" with "complicated", focusing on the complexity contributing to the difficulty.

remarkably intricate

Changes "difficult" to "intricate" and "specifically" to "remarkably", emphasizing the complex and detailed nature of the difficulty.

notably complex

Emphasizes complexity as the source of the difficulty, using "notably" to highlight the significant level of complexity involved.

uncommonly challenging

Highlights the rarity of the challenge involved, suggesting the difficulty is beyond the ordinary.

FAQs

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

You can use "specifically difficult" to emphasize that a challenge is hard due to particular reasons or conditions, as in: "The experiment was specifically difficult due to the precise measurements required."

What are some alternatives to "specifically difficult"?

Alternatives include "particularly challenging", "especially hard", or "uniquely problematic", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "specifically difficult" in formal writing?

Yes, "specifically difficult" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in scientific or technical contexts where precision is valued. It adds emphasis to the nuanced nature of the difficulty.

What makes "specifically difficult" different from "generally difficult"?

"Specifically difficult" implies that the difficulty stems from particular aspects or conditions, whereas "generally difficult" suggests the challenge is inherently hard, regardless of context.