that is most difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that is most difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that presents a significant challenge or obstacle. Example: "Among all the tasks assigned, that is most difficult for me to complete on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It's the body that is most difficult to replace: vegetables contain no gelatin, the stuff that makes good chicken stock gel when chilled.

The New York Times

And they can focus their overseas aid on the issue that is most difficult for poor countries to deal with themselves: disease.There are signs that the summit could achieve something on both fronts.

The Economist

"He did so many things right, but this is the thing that is most difficult and the most important, and he didn't do the right thing," Mr. Flores said.

The New York Times

The aspect that is most difficult to adapt is the required power level.

Energy Procedia

Mating is a state that is most difficult in ring assembly.

ROBOMECH Journal

The droplet size that is most difficult to float and its flotation rate are predicted by scaling and estimated numerically.

Chemical Engineering Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"The things that are most difficult, we're not developing," he said.

The New York Times - Science

Life has to keep going forward, and so do whatever dreams we have -- even at times that are most difficult".

The New York Times

"The part that's most difficult to swallow is that we've been in that position before and we haven't learned," Newman said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Toward the end of the test, you come to items that are most difficult for you," said Howard Wainer, the author of "Computerized Adaptive Testing: A Primer".

The New York Times

Of all of the great man's mannerisms, he noted, "It's his voice that was most difficult, because he doesn't do anything wrong".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that is most difficult", ensure the context clearly identifies what the 'that' refers to. Specificity enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "that is most difficult" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "that's the hardest" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that is most difficult" functions as a subjective complement, specifically an adjective phrase, that identifies and describes a particular subject as presenting the greatest challenge or obstacle. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that is most difficult" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that denotes a significant challenge or obstacle. While flagged as correct by Ludwig AI, its usage leans towards formal and neutral registers, as it's frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. For informal settings, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Understanding the nuances of this phrase and its alternatives can help writers choose the most effective language for their intended audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is the hardest

Replaces "most difficult" with its superlative synonym "hardest", emphasizing the extreme level of challenge.

that is the most challenging

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging", offering a slightly more positive framing of the difficulty.

that is the toughest

Uses "toughest" to convey a sense of resilience required to overcome the difficulty.

that presents the greatest challenge

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the challenge itself, rather than directly describing something as difficult.

that is the trickiest

Replaces "difficult" with "trickiest", implying that cleverness or strategy is needed to handle it.

that is the most problematic

Emphasizes the issues caused by the difficulty, framing it as a problem to be solved.

that is the most complex

Shifts the focus to the complicated nature of the issue, rather than its inherent difficulty.

that is the biggest hurdle

Uses the metaphor of a "hurdle" to represent the difficulty as an obstacle to be overcome.

that is the most demanding

Highlights the high level of effort or skill required.

that requires the most effort

Focuses on the amount of effort needed, rather than the inherent difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "that is most difficult" in a sentence?

Use "that is most difficult" to pinpoint a specific challenge or obstacle within a broader context. For example, "Among all the exercises, "that is most difficult" for me is the plank."

What are some alternatives to "that is most difficult"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "that is the hardest", "that is the most challenging", or "that presents the greatest challenge".

Is "that is most difficult" formal or informal?

The phrase leans towards formal usage. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives such as "that's the hardest" or "that's the toughest".

When is it appropriate to use "that is most difficult" over other options?

Use "that is most difficult" when you want to express a significant challenge in a clear and somewhat formal way, particularly in written communication or professional settings.