that appears challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that appears challenging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that seems difficult or requires effort to understand or accomplish. Example: "The math problem that appears challenging at first can be solved with a simple formula."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Instead, my role as I see it is to teach individuals, groups, teams, or organizations about the understanding -- how the mind functions and how we shape our experience based only on the ebbs and flows of our thinking -- and then together (or sometimes without me) we'll find the answer to a specific issue that appears challenging.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

To illustrate a "big idea" that appears to challenge conventional thinking, he deploys a series of well-told anecdotes that combine seamlessly with popularised accounts of relevant academic research and case studies.

The Economist

But it would give some of them certain rights now granted only to legal residents and citizens, including the ability to hold some state jobs — a provision that appears to challenge federal laws that prohibit the hiring of undocumented workers.

The New York Times

Back at Sadler's Wells with a nameless new work celebrating that longevity, Lock and his team have lost none of their appetite for danger, with choreography that appears to challenge not only the limits of human physiology but also the most basic laws of physics.

Independent

Mr. Copé was speaking during a meeting to introduce a U.M.P. digital policy paper that appeared to challenge the rationale for the three-strikes approach.

The New York Times - Tech

Three major publishers said on Wednesday that they would allow their authors to access book sales data directly online, a move that appeared to challenge Amazon and its continued efforts to woo authors.

The New York Times

Experts from the commission have examined a wealth of new evidence, including freshly disclosed Essex police files that appear to challenge the assertion that Bamber shot his adopted parents, June and Neville, his sister Sheila Caffell, and her six-year-old twins, Daniel and Nicholas, at their farm in the village of Tolleshunt D'Arcy.

The Guardian

Do not appear challenge the bear(s)!

WikiHow

But he never gave up the idea of making a monumental stone sculpture that appears to defy gravity and challenges our expectations of scale.

Los Angeles Times

Pull all three reports; challenge everything that appears incorrect.

WikiHow

However, external factors, such as the lack of skills and knowledge of professionals, seem to be hampering the implementation of AAC in school settings – a phenomenon that appears to be a challenge reaching beyond South Africa, as reported in other studies (De Bertoli et al., 2014; Kent-Walsh, Stark, & Binger, 2008; Pickl, 2011; Soto, 1997).

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse in highly formal writing. While grammatically correct, consider more sophisticated synonyms to enhance the tone and vocabulary.

Common error

Don't use "that appears challenging" when you have concrete evidence of the difficulty. If you know something is definitively challenging, state it directly rather than using the qualifier "appears". This makes your writing more precise and credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that appears challenging" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun. It describes a characteristic or quality of the noun it modifies, indicating that something seems difficult or demanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that appears challenging" functions as a relative clause to describe something that seems difficult upon initial assessment. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it holds a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a perceived rather than definitively confirmed difficulty. For alternatives, consider options like "that seems difficult" or "that presents a challenge" depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems difficult

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and "challenging" with "difficult", maintaining the core meaning.

that looks tough

Substitutes "appears" with "looks" and "challenging" with "tough", offering a more informal tone.

that presents a challenge

Transforms the adjective phrase into a noun phrase, emphasizing the challenge itself.

that poses difficulties

Replaces "challenging" with "difficulties" and uses the verb "poses" instead of "appears", altering the structure slightly.

that seems daunting

Substitutes "challenging" with "daunting", implying a more intimidating or overwhelming quality.

that presents an obstacle

Emphasizes the hindering nature of the challenge, framing it as an obstacle to overcome.

that is seemingly problematic

Introduces a more formal tone, highlighting the problematic nature of the situation.

that has apparent difficulties

Focuses on the visible or obvious nature of the difficulties.

that appears to be problematic

Adds "to be" and replaces "challenging" with "problematic", providing a slightly more verbose alternative.

that strikes as difficult

Uses idiomatic verb "strikes", making the phrase sound a bit more creative.

FAQs

What does "that appears challenging" mean?

The phrase "that appears challenging" means something seems difficult or demanding based on an initial assessment or observation. It indicates a perceived difficulty that may require effort or skill to overcome.

What can I say instead of "that appears challenging"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems difficult", "that looks tough", or "that presents a challenge" depending on the context.

How to use "that appears challenging" in a sentence?

You can use "that appears challenging" to describe a task, problem, or situation that seems difficult at first glance. For example, "The math problem that appears challenging at first can be solved with a simple formula."

What's the difference between "that appears challenging" and "that is challenging"?

"That appears challenging" suggests a perceived difficulty based on initial observation, while "that is challenging" indicates a confirmed or known difficulty. The former implies a possibility, while the latter states a fact.