with little difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with little difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that achieving something was easy, without much effort. For example: "I finished the assignment with little difficulty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most do so with little difficulty.

The New York Times

Most students find a research advisor with little difficulty.

University of California, Berkeley

Teachers will find that students will work with little difficulty.

Yale University

But new volunteers were often recruited with little difficulty.

The Guardian

Both of those systems managed with little difficulty.

The New York Times

A diet is a good one when you can dine away from home with little difficulty.

The New York Times

For example, slime mold can find its way out of maze with little difficulty.

MIT Technology Review

In 1893 Rābiḥ occupied the district of Bornu, east of Lake Chad, with little difficulty.

Britannica

Indeed Greenwald jumped platforms from print to television with little difficulty.

The Washington Post

Most small-business owners with solid credit ratings can borrow $100,000 with little difficulty, Mr. Glover said.

The New York Times

"These are extremely able students and most will be able to get good jobs with little difficulty".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with little difficulty" to emphasize the ease with which a task was accomplished, especially when contrasting it with potentially challenging situations. For example: "Despite the complex instructions, she assembled the furniture with little difficulty."

Common error

While acceptable, "with little difficulty" can sometimes sound slightly informal in highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "with relative ease" or "without significant impediment" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with little difficulty" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It indicates that the action was carried out easily and without significant obstacles. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with little difficulty" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase used to convey the ease with which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various writing contexts, from news and media to academic and encyclopedia entries. While generally neutral in tone, it's best to consider more formal alternatives like "with relative ease" in specialized or highly formal writing. The abundance of examples, as confirmed by Ludwig, demonstrates its common usage. Understanding its function and considering context-appropriate synonyms can enhance your writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with ease

Focuses on the effortless nature of the action, omitting the explicit mention of 'difficulty'.

effortlessly

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a single adverb, emphasizing the lack of effort required.

without much trouble

Substitutes "difficulty" with the more informal "trouble", maintaining a similar level of meaning.

smoothly

Highlights the seamless and uncomplicated progression of an action or event.

readily

Emphasizes the willingness or availability with which something is done, implying ease.

with no problem

Uses a more direct and conversational tone to express the absence of difficulty.

without a hitch

Indicates that something happened perfectly, without any unexpected problems or delays.

comfortably

Suggests a sense of ease and confidence in performing the action.

with minimal effort

Highlights that the task required very little exertion or energy.

in a breeze

Uses an idiom to describe something that is very easy to accomplish.

FAQs

How can I use "with little difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "with little difficulty" to describe how easily someone performs a task. For example: "He solved the problem "with little difficulty"."

What's a more formal synonym for "with little difficulty"?

For more formal alternatives, consider using phrases such as "with relative ease", "without significant effort", or "without considerable hardship".

Is it always appropriate to use "with little difficulty" in academic writing?

While generally acceptable, in very formal academic contexts, consider alternatives like "with relative ease" or "without significant impediment" to maintain a more elevated tone.

What's the difference between ""with little difficulty"" and "easily"?

"With little difficulty" is a phrase that emphasizes the absence of problems, while "easily" is a single adverb that directly describes how effortlessly something was done. They're often interchangeable, but the phrase can add a bit more emphasis.