the difficult ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the difficult ones' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to describe a group of people, objects, or tasks that are particularly difficult to deal with. For example: "The new students presented the most difficult ones when it came to getting them to understand the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Unless you really need a costume of one of the difficult ones (for a school production, etc) it may be better to pick an easier one.

WikiHow

"I missed several easy birdie opportunities and made the difficult ones," said Watson, who failed on two birdie putts from about five feet.

Los Angeles Times

In the harsh parlance of procurement, they must "cream and park", focusing on the quick wins and ignoring the difficult ones.

The Guardian

If he gets well, I'll kiss his little blow hole!" Though the light moments over the years have been fun, sharing the difficult ones really forged our friendship, particularly when we had to cover the attacks on our city and our country on 9/11.

The New York Times

Even in the difficult ones".

The New York Times

Including the difficult ones.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

"The difficult one for me was Stevie slipping on the ball," he says.

The Guardian - Sport

Is that the difficult one?

The New Yorker

But the drink is the difficult one.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Whether you work with difficult people or you ARE the difficult one, this workshop can help.

Columbia University

Objective No. 3 is the difficult one; it concerns Afghanistan per se.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the difficult ones", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'difficult'. Be specific about the challenges involved to provide clarity to your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "the difficult ones" without specifying the area of difficulty. Lack of context can lead to misinterpretation. Instead of saying "We focused on the difficult ones", specify "We focused on the difficult cases regarding student enrollment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the difficult ones" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a sentence or clause. As Ludwig AI explained, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The examples demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the difficult ones" is a versatile phrase used to describe entities characterized by challenges, complexities, or problems. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic discussions, it serves to categorize and highlight elements requiring special consideration. Remember to provide sufficient context when employing this phrase to prevent ambiguity and ensure clear communication. Consider alternatives like "the challenging ones" or "the complex ones" to add specificity. It is a phrase used very often, which makes this generic, but it allows the writer to specify something that needs extra care.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the challenging ones

Replaces "difficult" with a synonym emphasizing the demanding nature.

the tricky ones

Substitutes "difficult" with a term suggesting a need for careful handling.

the complex ones

Focuses on the intricacy and complicated nature of the items in question.

the tough ones

Emphasizes the resilience and strength required to deal with them.

the thorny ones

Highlights the problematic and potentially troublesome aspects.

the knotty ones

Suggests entanglement and difficulty in resolving or untangling.

the problematic ones

Directly indicates that these items present problems or issues.

the demanding ones

Focuses on the high requirements and expectations they impose.

the intricate ones

Emphasizes the detailed and elaborate nature causing difficulty.

the arduous ones

Highlights the effort and strain involved in managing them.

FAQs

How can I use "the difficult ones" in a sentence?

You can use "the difficult ones" to refer to tasks, people, or situations that present significant challenges. For example: "Among all the assignments, "the difficult ones" required the most research".

What's a good alternative to "the difficult ones"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "the difficult ones" with phrases like "the challenging ones", "the complex ones", or "the tricky ones".

Is it correct to say "the difficult one" instead of "the difficult ones"?

Yes, but it depends on whether you're referring to a single difficult item or multiple. "The difficult one" refers to a singular item, while "the difficult ones" refers to multiple difficult items.

When should I use "the difficult ones" versus other similar phrases?

Use "the difficult ones" when you want to generally refer to a set of items that pose challenges. If you want to emphasize complexity, use "the complex ones". If you want to highlight problems, consider using "the problematic ones".