Learning Curves

Ever hear someone mention a “steep learning curve” when describing something that’s difficult to master?

Well, that’s wrong!

Think of the bar and line graphs you’ve seen. A pandemic graph, for instance.

The horizontal scale (X axis) on these graphs is pretty much always time. The vertical scale (the Y axis) is whatever you’re measuring. So if you’re measuring how difficult something is, the more difficult, the more time, right? If it’s difficult to learn, it takes longer, right? If it’s easy it takes less time.

That means the steeper the curve, the easier!

I think we say “steep learning curve” for difficult things because of the misaligned analogy with hills. The steeper the hill, the more difficult to climb, right? The gentler the slope, the easier.

Here’s a person who came up with a good replacement for “steep”:

University of California Berkeley nuclear engineering professor Daniel Kammen says he’s hoping nuclear energy can fill some needs that renewables may not resolve. But he points to a stiff “learning curve.” 

https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/09/what-role-for-small-nuclear-modular-reactors-in-combating-climate-change/

I suppose “tough” and “difficult” would work too. But don’t say “steep”!