that appears difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"If cases that appear difficult to win do not get to court," says Hamish Brown, a retired senior police officer and expert on sexual violence, "then jurors will never get the chance to become educated about those more complicated cases that rarely go forward".

The Guardian

We humans have weaknesses in our character that appear difficult if not impossible to overcome by our own efforts.

SEP

The Eurocode 2 System used here to categorize food appears to be user friendly and is available on the Internet with instructions on how to categorize food items that appear difficult to assign to 1 category (14 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

In our previous study (Badke et al. 2013), we found that increasing the size of the reference panel led to an improved imputation, especially of SNP that appear difficult to impute, such as SNP with low (<0.1) MAF and those located in the chromosomal extremes.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

That task appears difficult given the graduation of senior driver Hannah Walleck, a Mission League first-team selection who led her squad with 93 goals and 49 assists.

Los Angeles Times

Secondly, the PCFP and other UNICEF sector programs contain a multiplicity of different activities going on at the same time, such that it appears difficult to fully review and document all of them.

Unicef

Nadal holds the No. 1 overall ranking, but received the No. 2 seed here, along with a draw that appears more difficult than Federer's at the outset.

The New York Times

We understand that this assay appears difficult and challenging and like microsurgical experiments, these electroporations require a significant training to position the electrode at the desired location appropriately.

eLife

Despite nursing home staff members' knowledge of dignity-conserving aspects in general and of aspects important for an individual resident's dignity, dignity-conserving care that is tailored to an individual appears difficult to bring about in practice.

BMC Health Services Research

Quantitative data on UGT-glucuronosyltransferase, sulfotransferase, and N-acetyltransferase activities for the same substrate in the skin of human and at least one animal species are so scarce that a meaningful comparison appears difficult (Tables  5, 6).

Archives of Toxicology

On the background of this development, it seems that at a time when relativism appears difficult to surmount, authenticity has become a last measure of value and a common currency in contemporary cultural life (Jay 2004).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that appears difficult" to introduce a topic or task that may seem daunting initially but could be manageable with the right approach or knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "that appears difficult" when a simpler or more direct description of the challenge would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that appears difficult" functions as a qualifying clause, often introducing a subject or task that presents an initial impression of being challenging or complex. Ludwig confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that appears difficult" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, employed to introduce topics or tasks perceived as challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While the phrase enjoys broad applicability, its frequency is relatively uncommon. It is used across various registers, including academic, professional, and general media. When using "that appears difficult", ensure it accurately reflects a genuine challenge and isn't used for unnecessary exaggeration. Consider alternatives like ""that seems challenging"" or ""that looks hard"" depending on your desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems challenging

Replaces "appears" with "seems", emphasizing a subjective impression of difficulty.

that looks hard

Uses a more direct and simple vocabulary to convey difficulty.

that presents a challenge

Shifts the focus to the inherent challenge rather than the appearance of difficulty.

that is seemingly complex

Replaces "difficult" with "complex" and adds "seemingly" to highlight the perceived complexity.

that gives the impression of being hard

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the impression of difficulty.

that one perceives as arduous

Uses more formal language to describe the perception of something being difficult.

that is not easy at first glance

Focuses on the initial impression of something not being easy.

that presents considerable obstacles

Highlights the obstacles presented by something that appears difficult.

that poses significant hurdles

Uses "hurdles" to represent challenges and emphasizes their significance.

that smacks of improbability

Suggests a stronger sense of doubt or unlikelihood of success.

FAQs

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

You can use "that appears difficult" to describe something that seems challenging or hard to understand. For example: "The math problem "that appears difficult" at first can actually be solved with a simple formula."

What are some alternatives to saying "that appears difficult"?

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

Is it better to say "that appears difficult" or "that is difficult"?

"That appears difficult" suggests a subjective assessment or initial impression of difficulty, while "that is difficult" states it as a fact. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the perception of difficulty or state it as an objective truth.

What's the difference between "that appears difficult" and "that seems difficult"?

Both phrases are very similar. "Appears" and "seems" are nearly synonymous in this context, both indicating a subjective impression. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic variation.