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Prepositions before nouns

“Of difficulty” or “with difficulty”?

English normally uses “with difficulty” to describe something done in a hard way. “Of difficulty” is rare and usually nonstandard in everyday English.

Quick answer

The standard expression

Use “with difficulty” when something is hard to do. “Of difficulty” is not a normal modern English pattern except in rare formal structures such as “a task of great difficulty.”

She walked with difficulty after the injury.
The door opened with difficulty.
It was a task of great difficulty for the team.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
with difficulty

Describing an action done in a hard way

Use “with difficulty” after verbs to show effort or trouble.

He breathed with difficulty.
The child read the text with difficulty.
2
difficulty in + activity

Naming the area that is hard

Use “difficulty in” before a noun or gerund.

She had difficulty in understanding the instructions.
Many students face difficulty in maths.
3
difficulty with + thing

Referring to problems with something

Use “difficulty with” for trouble involving a person, tool, or topic.

I had difficulty with the software yesterday.
They experienced difficulty with pronunciation.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
with difficulty
The patient spoke with difficulty.
in a difficult manner
of difficulty
It was a problem of great difficulty.
formal description of the level of difficulty, not the usual adverbial phrase
difficulty in
She had difficulty in reading the map.
trouble performing an activity
difficulty with
We had difficulty with the printer.
problems involving a thing or person

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using “of difficulty” after verbs

Modern English uses “with difficulty” in this meaning.

✕ He walked of difficulty. ✓ He walked with difficulty.

Leaving out the preposition after “difficulty”

Use “difficulty in” before activities.

✕ She had difficulty understand the lesson. ✓ She had difficulty in understanding the lesson.

Using “with difficulty” before a noun phrase

For problems involving a thing, “difficulty with” is more natural.

✕ They had with difficulty the machine. ✓ They had difficulty with the machine.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The old man climbed the stairs ___ difficulty.
2. She had difficulty ___ the instructions.
3. We had difficulty ___ the new system.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “of difficulty” ever correct?

Yes, in formal phrases such as “a matter of great difficulty,” but not in everyday expressions like “walked with difficulty.”

Can I say “difficulty understanding”?

Yes. In informal English, speakers often omit “in” before a gerund.

What is the difference between “difficulty in” and “difficulty with”?

“Difficulty in” focuses on an activity, while “difficulty with” focuses on a thing, person, or subject.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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