unnecessary difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unnecessary difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is made more complicated than it needs to be. Example: "The new policy introduced unnecessary difficulty for employees trying to complete their tasks efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Re "Doctors' Toughest Diagnosis: Own Mental Health" (July 8): It would seem that Dr. Steven Miles, a subject of the article, made unnecessary difficulty for himself by honestly answering the question about whether he had had a psychiatric illness.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We won't cause you unnecessary difficulties.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, Mr. McCall has been creating unnecessary difficulties for himself.

The New York Times

But the talk of a wave in November might set the party up for unnecessary difficulties.

The Guardian - Opinion

The FAS fought back.Nice job, if you have no opinionsThis is not to say that Mr Summers didn't create unnecessary difficulties.

The Economist

Mr Kissinger, who was America's secretary of state, is shown to have urged the Argentinian military regime to act before the US Congress resumed session, and told it that Washington would not cause it "unnecessary difficulties".

The Guardian

Not only do monthly payments create the initial problems highlighted in the MPs' letter, they also create unnecessary difficulties for those – typically mothers – who just about get by when budgeting weekly or fortnightly.

The Guardian - Business

When an editor bossily instructed him, as he was writing "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", that ignoring the rules that govern the world of children's books "does cause unnecessary difficulties", Dahl continued happily to flout most of them.

The Economist

As such, the agency says it will begin aggressively promoting a new program of using specially trained officers to head off unnecessary difficulties involving security screening of travelers with disabilities.

The New York Times

Busch sees the grievance procedures as a fundamental safeguard against unnecessary difficulties.

Science Magazine

Requiring individuals to coordinate and agree when acting on your behalf can cause unnecessary difficulties and delay in decision-making.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or situations, use "unnecessary difficulty" to pinpoint aspects that can be streamlined or simplified to improve efficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "unnecessary difficulty" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or technical language might be preferred. Consider alternatives such as "avoidable complication" or "superfluous impediment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unnecessary difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, where "unnecessary" modifies the noun "difficulty". It highlights that the difficulty in question is avoidable or not required. Ludwig indicates it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unnecessary difficulty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to pinpoint avoidable complications across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While it is appropriate for many situations, more formal synonyms like "avoidable complication" might be preferred in academic writing. The phrase sees prevalent use in news, scientific, and business domains, reflecting its broad applicability to discussing inefficiencies and avoidable problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoidable complication

Focuses on the aspect of something being avoidable, implying the difficulty could have been prevented.

needless problem

Highlights the lack of necessity for the problem to exist.

unwarranted challenge

Emphasizes that the challenge is not justified or deserved.

gratuitous complexity

Indicates an excess of complexity that is not required.

superfluous impediment

Suggests an obstruction that is beyond what is necessary.

uncalled-for struggle

Highlights that the struggle or effort is not justified or necessary.

pointless obstruction

Emphasizes the lack of purpose or reason for the obstruction.

extra burden

Focuses on the additional weight or difficulty imposed.

undue hardship

Highlights the excessive or inappropriate nature of the hardship.

unnecessary hassle

Emphasizes the annoyance and inconvenience caused.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "unnecessary difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "avoidable complication", "needless problem", or "unwarranted challenge" depending on the context.

How can "unnecessary difficulty" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "The new policy introduced "unnecessary difficulty" for employees." or "Cutting through the red tape eliminates "unnecessary difficulty" for applicants."

What's the difference between "unnecessary difficulty" and "undue hardship"?

"Unnecessary difficulty" refers to a complication that isn't needed, while "undue hardship" suggests a level of suffering or burden that is excessive or inappropriate. The former is about avoidable complications, the latter about excessive suffering.

Is it correct to use "unnecessary difficulties" as a plural?

Yes, you can use "unnecessary difficulties" when referring to multiple instances of unnecessary complications or problems. For example: "The project faced several unnecessary difficulties due to poor planning."