was very challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was very challenging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation, task, or experience that posed significant difficulty or obstacles. Example: "The project we undertook last year was very challenging, requiring extensive research and collaboration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Who were the challenging ones? A. I think Gary Barnett of Extell Development was very challenging.

The New York Times

"It was very challenging.

Independent

The rehearsals were intense: the score was very challenging.

The Guardian

I think I was serving in the 40 percentages all my matches this summer, so it was very challenging.

The New York Times - Sports

"Because of the shape of the site, the frontage of the main entry is very narrow, so to have the buildings have street presence was very challenging.

The New York Times

After the Tabas earthquake, the Qanat system was seriously affected and providing water for survivors was very challenging.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

"Once you get turned down by Harvard and Princeton, there was a tidal effect– that January 2005 closing and investment was very challenging.

Forbes

That was a difficult, complex film to work with, everything about it was very challenging.

Huffington Post

Computer Gamer, Crash, and ZX Computing commented that playing the game with limited lives was very challenging.

Wikipedia

Facilitating teamwork across organizational boundaries was very challenging.

BMC Health Services Research

The management of our case was very challenging.

BMC Ophthalmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was very challenging", provide context to clarify the specific aspects that made it difficult. This adds depth and informs the reader effectively.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "was very challenging". Vary your language by using synonyms like "presented considerable difficulties" or "required significant effort" to maintain reader engagement and convey nuanced meanings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was very challenging" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (often implied) to indicate that something presented a high degree of difficulty or tested someone's abilities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was very challenging" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe something difficult. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business, but can be found also in other contexts. To enhance your writing, consider providing specific context and employing synonyms like "presented considerable difficulties" or "required significant effort" to avoid overuse and add depth to your descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presented considerable difficulties

Focuses on the difficulties encountered.

required significant effort

Highlights the effort needed.

posed a major obstacle

Emphasizes the obstructive nature of the situation.

demanded a great deal of resilience

Stresses the need for resilience.

entailed a high degree of complexity

Points out the complexity involved.

proved exceptionally demanding

Highlights the demanding aspect.

necessitated overcoming hurdles

Emphasizes the need to overcome obstacles.

was exceptionally taxing

Highlights the draining nature.

involved intricate problems

Focuses on the intricate nature of the problems faced.

called for substantial expertise

Highlights the expertise required.

FAQs

How can I use "was very challenging" in a sentence?

You can use "was very challenging" to describe a task, situation, or experience that presented significant difficulties. For example, "The project we undertook last year was very challenging, requiring extensive research and collaboration."

What are some alternatives to "was very challenging"?

You can use alternatives like "was very difficult", "was highly challenging", or "presented considerable difficulties" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "was very challenging" or "was quite challenging"?

Both "was very challenging" and "was quite challenging" are acceptable. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey. "Very" implies a higher degree of difficulty than "quite".

What makes something "was very challenging"?

Something "was very challenging" if it involved complex problems, required significant effort, or tested one's abilities and resilience. The specific challenges can vary widely depending on the situation.