a complicated search

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complicated search" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a search process that involves multiple steps, challenges, or difficulties. Example: "The detective embarked on a complicated search for the missing person, sifting through numerous leads and false information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Mr. Robb also noted, repeatedly, that firefighting was not the Coast Guard's primary responsibility, particularly at the beginning of a complicated search and rescue operation.

The New York Times

It's been a long and winding road for Yahoo and Microsoft since Redmond's first attempt to buy Yahoo for $45 billion two years ago, which ended up in the two companies agreeing to a complicated search deal in July, 2009.

TechCrunch

As we first reported yesterday, Microsoft and Yahoo are on the verge of announcing a complicated search and search marketing alliance that will combine the no. 2 and no. 3 players in search into something that may have a chance of competing with Google (although combined they will still have less than half of Google's 65% or so search market share).

TechCrunch

As older patients are identified simply on the basis of their age at a certain date, which should not require a complicated search strategy, these findings suggest that creating or modifying a system search reflects that the staff in these practices are more motivated and/or experienced to use their IT system to try to achieve their flu vaccination targets.

BMJ Open

The main two drawbacks of the sparse suffix arrays are i) the necessity to run the search procedure D times, and ii) a complicated search procedure when the queried pattern length is less than D. The necessity to run the search procedure D times comes from the fact that the queried pattern may begin at some position s, where the value s mod D can be any one of D different values.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A weary Ian Holloway had left his position as manager by mutual consent and Keith Millen was in temporary charge throughout a prolonged and complicated search for a new boss.

BBC

After that, they design a cascaded discrete-continuous inference algorithm to effectively optimize a non-convex objective, by generating a diverse proposal to explore the complicated search space.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

PSO is an approach for evaluating the optimal parameters of complicated search spaces.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Q: What was the most difficult or complicated search you've ever undertaken?

Huffington Post

For more complicated searches, the related SMS tips service offers answers in an automated Q&A format.

TechCrunch

For Latvia, a small country with a complicated past, a search for identity has persisted since the breakup of the Soviet Union 24 years ago.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "a complicated search" with an explanation of why it's complicated. For example: "a complicated search, hampered by incomplete data and conflicting witness statements."

Common error

Avoid using "a complicated search" when a simpler term like "search" or "investigation" would suffice. Overusing the adjective "complicated" can weaken your writing and make it sound unnecessarily dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complicated search" functions as a noun phrase modified by the adjective "complicated". It typically serves as the subject or object of a verb, describing a search process that is complex or difficult. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a complicated search" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a search process that is complex or difficult. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is usable in written English. It's used in different contexts, from News & Media to Science, and its usage ranges from neutral to formal settings. When employing this phrase, be sure that the context clearly reflects the challenges and intricate aspects of the search, and consider alternatives like "a complex investigation" or "an intricate exploration" to refine your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complex investigation

Replaces "search" with "investigation" and "complicated" with "complex", suggesting a more formal or official inquiry.

an intricate exploration

Substitutes "search" with "exploration" and "complicated" with "intricate", highlighting the detailed and elaborate nature of the search.

a difficult quest

Replaces "search" with "quest" and "complicated" with "difficult", implying a challenging and demanding search process.

a challenging investigation

Swaps "complicated" for "challenging", framing the search as demanding effort and skill.

a convoluted inquiry

Replaces "search" with "inquiry" and "complicated" with "convoluted", emphasizing the confusing and complex nature of the search.

a labyrinthine exploration

Substitutes "complicated" with "labyrinthine", stressing the intricate and maze-like quality of the exploration.

an elaborate investigation

Uses "elaborate" instead of "complicated", highlighting the detailed and thorough nature of the investigation.

a thorny quest

Replaces "complicated" with "thorny", emphasizing the problematic and challenging aspects of the quest.

a sophisticated analysis

Swaps "search" for "analysis" and "complicated" for "sophisticated", indicating a high level of complexity and expertise required.

an involved fact-finding mission

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive term, highlighting the depth and commitment required to find the facts.

FAQs

How can I use "a complicated search" in a sentence?

You can use "a complicated search" to describe a search process that involves numerous steps, challenges, or difficulties. For example: "The detective embarked on "a complicated search" for the missing person, sifting through numerous leads and false information."

What can I say instead of "a complicated search"?

You can use alternatives like "a complex investigation", "an intricate exploration", or "a difficult quest" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a complicated search" or "a complex search"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. "A complicated search" emphasizes the difficulties and challenges, while "a complex search" highlights the intricate and multifaceted nature of the search.

What makes a search "complicated"?

A search can be considered "complicated" due to factors such as a large amount of data to analyze, conflicting information, a lack of clear leads, or the involvement of numerous individuals or organizations.