that seems challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that seems challenging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an opinion or observation about a task or situation that appears difficult or demanding. Example: "The project deadline is tight, and the requirements are complex; that seems challenging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

You have a choice: between a definite offer to do a job that seems challenging and exciting and is highly paid but with which you're neither familiar nor immediately comfortable; and a job you may not get but is one you've already found enjoyable and in which you've already found success.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Research suggests that people who lack self-efficacy belief that you can do self-efficacy beliefan for sithations that seem challenging.

Vice

But it didn't seem quite fair to invite crowds to a restaurant that seemed challenged in getting food out to the table or two of regulars who showed up for lunch — where the leisurely pace of a meal seemed more or less incompatible with the demands of even a lazy Los Angeles afternoon.

Los Angeles Times

At the current time point, it seems challenging that all quantitative imaging techniques may be performed at once due to the long acquisition times.

BioMed Research International

"When one thing seems to be clear, there's always something that seems to challenge that". .

Vice

And I realized the extent to which people can be automatically defensive about anything that seems to challenge their entire value system.

Huffington Post

"What's interesting in the field of sex or sexology is that we tend to find it's incredibly contradictory," says Beddard. "When one thing seems to be clear, there's always something that seems to challenge that". .

Vice

It was the first match of the tournament that seemed to challenge her.

The New Yorker

At times, Colonel Pohl, the chief judge in Guantánamo, took a contentious tone that seemed to challenge the Obama administration.

The New York Times

His legs working at a phenomenally high cadence, he reached a velocity that seemed to challenge the laws of centrifugal force and clocked a time of 9.0sec.

The Guardian - Sport

GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — The five Guantánamo detainees charged with coordinating the Sept. 11 attacks told a military judge on Monday that they wanted to confess in full, a move that seemed to challenge the government to put them to death.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that seems challenging" to introduce an observation about a task or situation's difficulty, setting expectations for effort and potential obstacles. This phrase is particularly effective when you want to highlight an obstacle without sounding overly negative.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "that seems challenging" in close proximity within your writing. Vary your phrasing by using alternatives such as "that appears difficult" or "that presents a challenge" to maintain reader engagement and prevent your writing from sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that seems challenging" functions as an evaluative observation. It's used to express a perception or assessment about the level of difficulty or demanding nature of a task, situation, or proposal. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is usable in written English to express an opinion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that seems challenging" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a perception of difficulty or demanding nature. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and the analysis shows its prevalence across various contexts, particularly in news, media and science. While versatile, it's crucial to use this phrase judiciously, considering alternatives to maintain writing dynamism and to avoid undermining encouragement in specific situations. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for many scenarios, but context-aware usage is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that appears difficult

Focuses on the apparent difficulty, using "appears" instead of "seems".

that looks tough

Uses a more informal word, "tough", to express the difficulty.

that presents a challenge

Emphasizes the challenge aspect, making it a more direct statement.

that is quite demanding

Highlights the demanding nature of the situation.

that poses a problem

Suggests the situation creates an obstacle to overcome.

that promises to be hard

Shifts the perspective to anticipation of hardship.

that isn't going to be easy

Uses a more conversational tone to state the difficulty.

that will take some doing

An idiomatic expression indicating that effort is required.

that represents a hurdle

Uses "hurdle" as a metaphor for a challenge that needs to be overcome.

that requires significant effort

Highlights the amount of effort needed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that seems challenging" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "that presents a significant challenge" or "that appears to be demanding". These options convey the difficulty in a manner suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "this seems challenging" instead of "that seems challenging"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct. "This seems challenging" is used when referring to something present or immediate, while "that seems challenging" refers to something a bit more distant or previously mentioned.

What does "that seems challenging" imply about the speaker's attitude?

The phrase suggests the speaker acknowledges the difficulty but doesn't necessarily express discouragement. It's a neutral observation, often implying a need for careful planning or extra effort.

Are there any contexts where "that seems challenging" might be inappropriate?

In contexts requiring strong encouragement or unwavering optimism, such as motivational speeches or team briefings before a critical task, using "that seems challenging" might inadvertently introduce doubt. Consider focusing on the opportunities or potential rewards instead.