turning out to be difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turning out to be difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or task that is proving to be more challenging than initially expected. Example: "I thought the project would be straightforward, but it is turning out to be difficult to manage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Understanding the genetic basis of complex diseases is turning out to be difficult, prompting a widespread (re- evaluation of the re- evaluations.

Trends in Molecular Medicine

His situation is perhaps the most extreme, since nearly half his portfolio consists of highly complex and illiquid private investment partnerships that are turning out to be difficult to sell, even with four law firms, an investment adviser and an accounting firm working on his behalf to find buyers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That turned out to be difficult.

The New York Times

This turned out to be difficult.

Harvard Business Review

This turns out to be difficult in practice.

Stanford University

Such efforts have turned out to be difficult and expensive.

The Economist

These questions of causation may turn out to be difficult.

The Washington Post

It turns out to be difficult to determine the basis matrix meeting such qualification in general.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

It turned out to be difficult to get people to talk about democracy directly.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But it turned out to be difficult to proceed from there.

The New York Times

However, it turned out to be difficult to establish a sound constraint calculus based on these relations.

Artificial Intelligence

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turning out to be difficult" to describe a situation where the level of challenge was not apparent at the outset. It's useful when expectations of simplicity or ease have been overturned by reality.

Common error

While "turning out to be difficult" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language with alternatives like "proving to be challenging" or "becoming problematic" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turning out to be difficult" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that something is proving to be more challenging than initially expected. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts, highlighting its descriptive capability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "turning out to be difficult" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to depict scenarios that prove more challenging than initially anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While the phrase is generally acceptable, varying your language with synonyms like "proving to be challenging" can enhance the richness of your writing. As confirmed by Ludwig, this expression effectively conveys a shift in perception, highlighting the contrast between initial expectations and the actual challenges encountered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proving to be challenging

Focuses on the present challenge without necessarily implying an initial expectation of ease; uses a more direct adjective.

becoming problematic

Highlights the emergence of problems and complications.

turning into a struggle

Emphasizes the effort and resistance involved.

posing a challenge

Highlights the difficulty as an obstacle.

meeting with difficulties

Focuses on encountering specific problems.

running into obstacles

Highlights unexpected impediments.

facing complications

Emphasizes the presence of intricate and complex issues.

not as easy as it seemed

Directly contrasts initial expectations with the actual difficulty encountered.

more complicated than expected

Emphasizes the higher level of complexity involved compared to initial assumptions.

presenting unforeseen challenges

Highlights unexpected and unanticipated difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "turning out to be difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "turning out to be difficult" to describe a task or situation that is proving more challenging than initially anticipated. For example: "The project is "turning out to be difficult" to manage."

What are some alternatives to "turning out to be difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "proving to be challenging", "becoming problematic", or "posing a challenge" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "turning out to be difficult"?

Yes, "turning out to be difficult" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English.

What does "turning out to be difficult" imply?

"Turning out to be difficult" implies that a task or situation was initially expected to be easier or more straightforward, but has since proven to be more complex or challenging than anticipated.