still more difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"still more difficult" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example Sentence: The math problem became still more difficult as he worked his way through it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Here's a still more difficult question: Why are fewer Americans working?

The Guardian - Opinion

Is it still more difficult for openly gay actors to get work?

The Guardian

So does she think it's still more difficult for a woman to succeed as an artist?

The Guardian - Arts

Isabelle with a walk-through is still more difficult than most adventure games are without one.

The New York Times - Tech

A second Palestinian demand is perhaps still more difficult for Israel to meet.

The New Yorker

His dyslexia must have made dealing with the case still more difficult".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Better still, but more difficult, will be a comprehensive treaty that keeps these weapons out of international disagreements.

The New York Times

To speak and write honestly in the Soviet Union is still a more difficult enterprise than an American can imagine.

The New Yorker

If anything, Alright, Still was more "difficult" since its all-conquering arrival in summer 2006 was accompanied by an avalanche of scurrilous publicity, about Allen's troubled schooldays, her involvement with drugs, and her alleged promiscuity.

Independent

In America the Republicans will make big gains in the mid-term elections and Mr Obama, already sobered by his loss in Massachusetts, will have to move to the centre.But pruning will still be more difficult than it has ever been before.

The Economist

(Note that it is a guarantee that is required, for otherwise the content of the claim in question as not been fully captured).[9] A related, but still much more difficult problem concerns what the phenomenalist can say about the content of propositions about material objects and events in the past, perhaps the very distant past.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. While generally acceptable, "still more difficult" may sound slightly formal. In very informal contexts, consider alternatives like "even harder".

Common error

Avoid using "still more difficult" in sentences where a simpler alternative would suffice. For example, instead of saying "The test was still more difficult than expected", you could say "The test was harder than expected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still more difficult" functions as an adverbial modifier to emphasize the increasing degree of difficulty. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts to highlight a progression of challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "still more difficult" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize an increase in difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Its function is to act as an adverbial modifier, highlighting the progressive nature of a challenge or complexity. While appropriate for various registers, it's most commonly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize that something has not only become difficult but has become increasingly so, and ensure there's a clear point of comparison for the increasing difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even more challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

substantially harder

Replaces "difficult" with "harder", denoting a greater degree of effort required.

further complicated

Highlights the additional layer of complexity added to the situation.

all the more demanding

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the task, suggesting it requires significant effort or skill.

markedly more complex

Highlights a noticeable increase in complexity compared to a previous state.

increasingly problematic

Shifts the focus to the problems arising from the situation rather than the difficulty itself.

considerably tougher

Uses "tougher" as a more informal synonym for "difficult", indicating increased resistance or hardship.

more arduous yet

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous", suggesting a strenuous or laborious effort.

exceedingly intricate

Focuses on the complex and detailed nature of the situation.

yet more troublesome

Shifts focus to the inconvenience and annoyance caused by the increased difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "still more difficult" to express that something has become increasingly challenging, such as, "The second stage of the project was "still more difficult" than the first".

What are some alternatives to "still more difficult"?

Some alternatives include "even more challenging", "increasingly problematic", or "further complicated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "still more difficult" grammatically correct?

Yes, "still more difficult" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's used to indicate a greater degree of difficulty compared to something else.

What's the difference between "more difficult" and "still more difficult"?

"More difficult" indicates a higher degree of difficulty. "Still more difficult" implies that the difficulty has increased beyond a previous level or expectation.