the difficulty remains

USAGE SUMMARY

"The difficulty remains" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to acknowledge that a problem or challenge has not been solved or overcome yet. For example: "The company is working hard to improve customer service, but the difficulty remains of how to reach out to new potential customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But the difficulty remains.

The New Yorker

Thus, the difficulty remains in the characterization of the other extreme of the interval (H_{T}).

Boundary Value Problems

But if we substitute statistical versions of determination rules, the difficulty remains.

SEP

Yet, the difficulty remains how to define the biological age.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

The difficulty remains in determining which variable had what effect.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

No flash has been added to appeal to new audiences, and the unwavering difficulty remains the same — it's a essentially a straight port of a classic, for better or worse.

TechCrunch

The diagnostic difficulty remains, proving the relationship between fistula and CD in the case of mild or absent colonic abnormalities.

Insights into Imaging

The main difficulty remains an institutional one and in principle it can therefore be resolved politically, provided we want to do so.

EU Parlament

This clearly demonstrates that the level of difficulty remains stable in time, with the easiest items at baseline remaining the easiest items after the intervention.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Reviewers said that the game's difficulty remains high for players as with the previous Ninja Gaiden game.

Wikipedia

Despite the usefulness of the FA technique, a difficulty remains: it is a complex task to model the causal relationship between several parameters or conditions within a system.

Procedia CIRP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For greater impact, follow "the difficulty remains" with a specific explanation of what aspect of the difficulty persists.

Common error

While "the difficulty remains" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it. Vary your language by using synonyms like "the problem persists" or "the challenge continues" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the difficulty remains" functions as a statement acknowledging the persistence of a problem or challenge. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates that despite efforts or changes, a certain difficulty has not been overcome. It is often used to transition to a more detailed explanation of the enduring issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the difficulty remains" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to acknowledge the continuation of a problem or challenge. While not exceedingly common, with Ludwig identifying a limited number of examples, its use is prominent in scientific and news-related contexts. Alternatives such as "the problem persists" or "the challenge continues" can offer variety, but the original phrase maintains a formal and serious tone suitable for professional and academic writing. Writers should avoid overusing this phrase to prevent monotony. Remember to follow this phrase with a specific explanation for greater impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the problem persists

Replaces "difficulty" with "problem" and "remains" with "persists" emphasizing the ongoing nature of the issue.

the challenge continues

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge" and "remains" with "continues", focusing on the sustained effort required.

the issue lingers

Replaces "difficulty" with "issue" and "remains" with "lingers", suggesting a more subtle but persistent problem.

the snag endures

Uses "snag" instead of "difficulty" to indicate a minor obstacle and "endures" for "remains" to highlight its lasting presence.

the obstacle stays

Replaces "difficulty" with "obstacle" and "remains" with "stays", emphasizing the fixed nature of the impediment.

the hurdle is still there

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the presence of a "hurdle", indicating an obstacle that needs to be overcome.

the complication is unresolved

Replaces "difficulty" with "complication" and shifts the focus to the lack of resolution.

the question is still open

Replaces "difficulty" to "question" and refers to the fact that it hasn't been solved.

the matter is pending

Substitutes the whole phrase with a status of the fact of the topic not being closed

the point is open

Uses "point" instead of "difficulty" and refers to the fact that it hasn't been solved.

FAQs

How can I use "the difficulty remains" in a sentence?

You can use "the difficulty remains" to indicate that a problem or challenge is still present despite efforts to solve it. For example: "Despite the new strategy, "the difficulty remains" in reaching the target audience".

What are some alternatives to "the difficulty remains"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "the problem persists", "the challenge continues", or "the issue lingers", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "the difficulty remains" formal or informal?

"The difficulty remains" leans toward the formal side, suitable for professional or academic writing. In casual conversation, you might opt for simpler phrasing.

What's the difference between "the difficulty remains" and "the difficulty is still there"?

"The difficulty remains" is more concise and formal, implying a continued state despite attempts to change it. "The difficulty is still there" is slightly more informal and direct, simply stating the presence of the difficulty.