tremendous difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tremendous difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is extremely challenging or hard to accomplish. Example: "She faced tremendous difficulty in completing the project on time due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Tremendous difficulty," said Moore, with a smile.

The Guardian

"The peace camp has had tremendous difficulty.

The New York Times

"This was a decision that was made with tremendous difficulty, to publicize it," Ms. Picard said.

The New York Times

A. Anything that has any kind of consumer halo has been having tremendous difficulty raising money.

The New York Times

And if an egg were to hatch, Mr. Blakeman wrote, Violet would have tremendous difficulty feeding her young.

The New York Times

"I had a family with a child who had tremendous difficulty waiting in lines, waiting for anything," said Dr. Balamuth.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

There are no answers and that is causing tremendous difficulties.

The New York Times

Microbiologists are facing tremendous difficulties in their quest to fight C. albicans' drug resistance and biofilm formation.

Harvard University

"The level of activism among some unions has changed dramatically, but many unions are having tremendous difficulties changing".

The New York Times

Given the rapport he appears to be developing with the president, it seemed they might have a chance to reach a broad agreement despite the tremendous difficulties.

The New York Times

The overall granulation model is highly non-linear, large-scale with multiple coordinates and uncertain parameters, leading to tremendous difficulties for optimisation and control.

Powder Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a problem, use "tremendous difficulty" to highlight the magnitude and significance of the challenges involved. This phrase is suitable for formal writing and presentations where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers before "difficulty". Phrases like "very tremendous difficulty" are redundant. Choose one strong adjective, such as "tremendous", to effectively convey the magnitude of the challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tremendous difficulty" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "tremendous" modifies the noun "difficulty". It is used to describe something that presents a major challenge or obstacle. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tremendous difficulty" is a correct and widely used phrase to describe significant challenges. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for formal contexts like news reporting, academic writing, and professional communications. While the phrase is generally used correctly, overusing intensifiers should be avoided. You can also choose from alternatives like "immense challenge" or "significant obstacle" for different nuances. The prevalence of this phrase in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its acceptance in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immense challenge

Changes "difficulty" to "challenge" and "tremendous" to "immense" conveying a similar degree of hardship but with a slightly different connotation.

formidable challenge

This alternative uses "formidable", which implies that the difficulty is intimidating or inspires respect due to its size or abilities.

significant obstacle

Replaces "difficulty" with "obstacle", shifting the focus to something that blocks progress, while "significant" indicates the importance of the obstruction.

intense struggle

This alternative emphasizes the intensity of the situation, highlighting the energy and effort required to overcome the difficulty.

considerable hardship

Substitutes "difficulty" with "hardship", emphasizing the suffering or privation caused by the situation. "Considerable" indicates the degree of suffering.

extreme adversity

Replaces "difficulty" with "adversity", highlighting unfavorable conditions or misfortune, and "extreme" intensifies the degree of the problem.

major impediment

Uses "impediment" to suggest a hindrance or obstruction, and "major" signifies the substantial nature of the obstruction.

severe struggle

Employs "struggle" to denote a forceful effort against opposition, while "severe" conveys the intensity and demanding nature of the situation.

substantial complication

Replaces "difficulty" with "complication", pointing to a factor that makes something more difficult, and "substantial" indicating the important degree of the issue.

serious problem

This phrase is a more straightforward way of expressing a "tremendous difficulty", focusing on the presence of a significant issue.

FAQs

How can I use "tremendous difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "tremendous difficulty" to emphasize the magnitude of a challenge or problem. For example, "The company faced "tremendous difficulty" in launching the new product due to supply chain disruptions".

What are some alternatives to saying "tremendous difficulty"?

You can use phrases like "immense challenge", "significant obstacle", or "considerable hardship" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "tremendous difficulty" formal or informal?

"Tremendous difficulty" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, or news-related contexts. In more casual settings, you might opt for a simpler expression like "big problem".

What is the difference between "tremendous difficulty" and "great difficulty"?

While both phrases convey that something is challenging, "tremendous difficulty" suggests a higher degree of intensity than "great difficulty". "Tremendous" emphasizes the significant scale or impact of the problem.