difficulty in vs difficulty to

Both 'difficulty in' and 'difficulty to' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Difficulty in' is used to describe the challenge or problem within a particular situation or context, while 'difficulty to' is used to describe the challenge or problem in achieving a particular action or goal.

Last updated: March 31, 2024

difficulty in

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe the challenge or problem within a particular situation or context.

Use 'difficulty in' when you want to talk about the challenge or problem within a specific situation or context. For example, 'I had difficulty in understanding the instructions.'

Examples:

She experienced difficulty in solving the math problem.
There was a lot of difficulty in reaching a consensus.
He faced difficulty in adjusting to the new environment.
The team encountered difficulty in completing the project on time.
I have difficulty in pronouncing some words correctly.

Show examples from the web [+]

Victims of Chernobyl have faced considerable difficulty in getting recognition.
I myself have some difficulty in understanding the reason for rejecting this report.
They have presented the greatest difficulty in 2000 and 2001.
Government finance statistics of these annual data progressed without difficulty in 2002.
Unexpected curfew presents difficulty in reaching it unnoticed.
The relatively low implementation rate reflects the difficulty in planning payment needs.
On the contrary, Miss Mackay experienced... the utmost difficulty in persuading me to stay.
He had no difficulty in finding the place.
At present all the developed countries are having difficulty in managing the various aspects of globalisation.
That's a promise you may have some difficulty in keeping.
We therefore had no difficulty in following you.
Of the 50 species loaded, only one has had any difficulty in surviving.
The 1999 guidelines also included a specific section on restructuring firms in difficulty in the agricultural sector.
It is the Council that always has great difficulty in reaching a common position.
A supreme court judge noted the difficulty in accessing academic works published in other Member States.
Furthermore, in many Member States, shipowners have difficulty in finding crew trained at national level.
I had difficulty in solving this problem.
Communications reports difficulty in contacting our forward posts.
Within this Parliament we may have difficulty in looking at this overall relationship.
The Commission generally has the utmost difficulty in getting European directives moving.

Alternatives:

struggle in
challenge in
problem in
issue in

difficulty to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe the challenge or problem in achieving a particular action or goal.

Use 'difficulty to' when you want to talk about the challenge or problem in achieving a specific action or goal. For example, 'She had difficulty to finish the project on time.'