to increase the difficulty of

USAGE SUMMARY

"to increase the difficulty of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to making something more difficult, either in a literal or figurative sense. For example, "The professor added more questions to the midterm in order to increase the difficulty of the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Does she have the determination or strength to increase the difficulty of her jumps?

The New York Times - Sports

Restrictions on advertising "serv[e] to increase the difficulty of discovering the lowest cost seller..

Cornell University

"Everyone wants to increase the difficulty of their routine and the 'wow' factor," Mahoney said.

The New York Times - Sports

First, NPD acceleration tends to increase the difficulty of the project by introducing new procedures and by reducing schedule slack.

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management

Evangulov said Daley's rivals would now be working out tactics to beat him which meant he would have to increase the difficulty of his dives.

The Guardian - Sport

"As long as there is enough land on Earth, we don't need to increase the difficulty of installation by going to sea".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Alternatively, changing the distracters to increase the difficulty level of these questions can make these items more discriminating.

BMC Psychiatry

Modifying the distracters to increase the difficulty level of these items can make these items more discriminating.

BMC Psychiatry

"Delaying mitigation efforts beyond those in place today through 2030 is estimated to substantially increase the difficulty of the transition to low longer-term emissions," says the summary.

BBC

When you're up to 20 minutes, increase the difficulty of each session.

Huffington Post

However, because of limited human information processing capacities, too many choices and too much browsing freedom tend to disorient users and increase the difficulty of information gathering.

Computers in Human Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to increase the difficulty of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being made more difficult. For instance, specify whether you are increasing the difficulty of a task, a game, or a process.

Common error

Avoid using "to increase the difficulty of" without specifying what becomes more difficult. For example, instead of saying "The update increases the difficulty of", specify "The update increases the difficulty of the final boss battle."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to increase the difficulty of" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates the reason or intent behind an action, specifically to make something more challenging. Examples show it modifying verbs, explaining why something is being done or changed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to increase the difficulty of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the intention to make something more challenging. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a purpose connector. The phrase appears frequently in scientific, news, and wiki contexts, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies what is being made more difficult to avoid vagueness. Consider alternatives like "to make more challenging" or "to heighten the challenge of" for varied phrasing. Overall, this phrase is a versatile and effective way to communicate the intent to enhance the complexity or challenge of a given task or situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to make more challenging

Focuses on 'making' something challenging, a more direct approach.

to heighten the challenge of

Uses 'heighten' to emphasize increasing the intensity of the challenge.

to escalate the complexity of

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'complexity', suitable when referring to intricate systems or processes.

to intensify the arduousness of

Uses more formal vocabulary, such as 'arduousness', suggesting a more laborious difficulty.

to exacerbate the toughness of

Emphasizes the aggravation of existing difficulty.

to amplify the rigor of

Replaces 'difficulty' with 'rigor', suitable for academic or scientific contexts.

to compound the intricacy of

Similar to 'escalate the complexity', but with a sense of adding layers of complexity.

to augment the demanding nature of

Focuses on the demanding aspect, suitable when referring to tasks that require significant effort.

to raise the bar for

An idiomatic expression meaning to increase standards or expectations.

to complicate matters further

Implies adding elements which will add difficulty to the problem.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "to increase the difficulty of"?

You can use alternatives such as "to make more challenging", "to heighten the challenge of", or "to escalate the complexity of" depending on the context.

Is "to increase the difficulty of" formal or informal?

The phrase "to increase the difficulty of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal or academic writing, you might prefer alternatives like "to amplify the rigor of".

When is it best to use "to increase the difficulty of"?

Use "to increase the difficulty of" when you want to clearly express the intention to make something more challenging. It's effective when you need to specify that an action or change is designed to make a task, game, or process harder.

What are some common situations where I might need to use "to increase the difficulty of"?

You might use it in discussing game design (e.g., "to increase the difficulty of the game"), exercise routines (e.g., "to increase the difficulty of the workout"), or academic assignments (e.g., "to increase the difficulty of the exam").