Difficultly vs. Difficulty — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 2, 2024
Difficulty refers to the state of being hard to accomplish, understand, or endure, focusing on challenges faced. Difficultly, less commonly used, is an adverb describing the manner of something being done with difficulty.
Difference Between Difficultly and Difficulty
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Difficulty is a noun that describes the level of challenge or complexity involved in a task or situation. Difficultly, on the other hand, is an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, illustrating the way in which an action is performed with hardship or effort.
While difficulty can be quantified or ranked (e.g., high, medium, low difficulty), difficultly does not have a degree or scale. It simply adds the notion of hardship to an action or state, without providing a clear measure of how challenging it is.
The term difficulty is widely used in various contexts, from academics to daily life, to describe obstacles or challenges that require effort to overcome. Its usage is common and understood in both formal and informal settings. Difficultly, whereas, is rare and might confuse readers or listeners because of its uncommon nature. It’s often more effective to use “with difficulty” or another phrase to convey the same meaning without causing confusion.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adverb
Usage
Commonly used to denote challenge level
Rarely used, denotes manner of action
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Context
Academic, professional, daily life
More formal or stylistic contexts
Degree or Scale
Can be quantified (e.g., high, medium, low)
No degree, simply modifies actions
Alternative Expressions
High difficulty, facing difficulties
With difficulty, doing something with hardship
Compare with Definitions
Difficultly
Challenges or obstacles that make something hard to achieve.
Despite the difficulties, they completed the project on time.
Difficulty
(Stylistically awkward) Doing something with great effort.
She difficultly carried the heavy boxes upstairs.
Difficultly
A situation that requires effort to resolve.
She faced financial difficulties after losing her job.
Difficulty
With much effort or trouble.
The words were difficultly pronounced due to her nervousness.
Difficultly
The state of being hard to do, deal with, or understand.
He encountered great difficulty in learning the new software.
Difficulty
In a way that is not easy or effortless; with difficulty.
He difficultly admitted his mistake.
Difficultly
The degree to which a task or goal is hard to achieve.
The game’s difficulty increases with each level.
Difficulty
By facing challenges or obstacles.
They difficultly navigated the complex regulations.
Difficultly
A thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand.
The main difficulty lies in the lack of resources.
Difficulty
(Rarely used) In a manner causing hardship.
The team difficultly reached the agreement.
Difficultly
Requiring considerable effort or skill; not easy to do or accomplish
"To entertain is far more difficult than to enlighten" (Anthony Burgess).
Difficulty
The condition or quality of being difficult
The difficulty of a task.
Difficultly
Not easy to endure; full of hardship or trouble; trying
Fell upon difficult times.
Difficulty
Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved
We face a difficulty that requires unconventional thinking.
Difficultly
Not easy to comprehend, solve, or explain
A difficult puzzle.
Difficulty
Often difficulties A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs
Lost his job and found himself in difficulties.
Difficultly
Not easy to please, satisfy, or manage
A difficult child.
Difficulty
A disagreement or dispute
A company trying to settle difficulties with labor.
Difficultly
Not easy to persuade or convince; stubborn.
Difficulty
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
Difficultly
(archaic) With difficulty; not easily.
Difficulty
An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
We faced a difficulty in trying to book a flight so late.
Difficultly
With difficulty.
Difficulty
Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
Difficulty
An objection.
Difficulty
That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
Difficulty
An awkward situation or quarrel.
Difficulty
The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; - opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty.
Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region.
Difficulty
Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology.
They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure.
Difficulty
A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.
Measures for terminating all local difficulties.
Difficulty
Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; - usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties.
In days of difficulty and pressure.
Difficulty
An effort that is inconvenient;
I went to a lot of trouble
He won without any trouble
Had difficulty walking
Finished the test only with great difficulty
Difficulty
A factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result;
Serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent
Difficulty
A condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome;
Grappling with financial difficulties
Difficulty
The quality of being difficult;
They agreed about the difficulty of the climb
Common Curiosities
Can difficulty and difficultly be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot. Difficulty is a noun, while difficultly is an adverb, and they serve different grammatical functions.
Why is difficultly less commonly used?
Difficultly is considered stylistically awkward by many and can often be replaced by clearer phrases like "with difficulty."
Is using difficultly in writing recommended?
It’s generally recommended to use clearer alternatives unless difficultly serves a specific stylistic purpose.
How does context affect the choice between difficulty and difficultly?
Difficulty is versatile and fits in most contexts, while difficultly might be used for emphasis in more formal or literary texts.
Can someone overcome difficulties?
Yes, with effort, strategy, and persistence, individuals can overcome difficulties.
Is difficultly recognized by all dictionaries?
Yes, but it is noted as being less commonly used and sometimes considered stylistically awkward.
How can I express the concept of difficulty without using the word difficultly?
Using phrases such as "with difficulty" or "struggling to" can convey the same meaning more clearly.
What is difficulty?
Difficulty is a noun describing the level of challenge or complexity in a situation or task.
How is difficultly used in a sentence?
Difficultly is used as an adverb, often in a more formal or stylistic context, to describe doing something with difficulty.
Is it correct to say "This task can be done difficultly"?
While grammatically correct, it's stylistically better to say "This task can be done with difficulty."
What is the synonym for difficulty?
Challenge, hardship, and obstacle are synonyms for difficulty.
What's an example of a difficulty someone might face?
An example of a difficulty could be learning a new language, which requires understanding complex grammar rules.
Can the degree of difficulty be measured?
Yes, difficulty can be described as high, medium, or low, depending on the challenge level.
What makes a task high in difficulty?
A task is high in difficulty if it requires significant effort, skill, or time to complete successfully.
How does one improve their ability to tackle difficulties?
Improving problem-solving skills, gaining experience, and adopting a positive attitude can enhance one's ability to tackle difficulties.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
