Cool MateDifficult vs Not so easy to arrange
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Difficult
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Not so easy to arrange
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Difficult
| Difficult | Not so easy to arrange | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt səʊ ˈiːzi tə əˈreɪndʒ//🇺🇸 //nɑt soʊ ˈizi tə əˈreɪndʒ// |
| Meaning | Hard to do or understand. | hard to organize |
| Example | This math problem is really difficult. | Organizing the conference was not so easy to arrange. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very | not so easy to cancel, not so easy to understand, not so easy to find |
| Antonyms | easy, simple, straightforward | simple, easy, straightforward |
| Common mistakes | 'Difficult' is often confused with 'hard.', Some learners use 'difficult' in place of 'complicated.', Misplacing 'difficult' in a sentence, like saying 'it's difficult to me' instead of 'it's difficult for me.' | Saying 'not easy to arrange' without 'so', Confusing with 'not easy to do', Using it in overly formal contexts |
| Usage notes | Use 'difficult' when describing tasks, problems, or situations that require a lot of effort. Avoid in very casual conversations; instead, use synonyms like 'hard.' | This phrase is often used when tasks or events are more complicated than expected. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Difficult vs Not so easy to arrange
What's the difference between Difficult and Not so easy to arrange?
Difficult: Hard to do or understand. Not so easy to arrange: hard to organize
Which is more common: Difficult and Not so easy to arrange?
Difficult is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Difficult: This math problem is really difficult. Not so easy to arrange: Organizing the conference was not so easy to arrange.
Can I use Difficult and Not so easy to arrange interchangeably?
Not always. Difficult and Not so easy to arrange are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.