are hard to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are hard to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing information or facts that are difficult to determine or understand. Example: "The reasons for the sudden market changes are hard to ascertain without further analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Real tourist numbers are hard to ascertain and questions have been raised about the authenticity of some of those quoted on TV.

The Guardian

There are chapters, especially toward the end, whose relation to the rest of the book are hard to ascertain, even with his constant guidance.

The New York Times - Books

Precise numbers are hard to ascertain, but the prevalence of the disease, factoring in an estimate for undiagnosed cases, has fluctuated in recent city health department surveys between 16percentand20percentcent, as many as one in five adults.

The New York Times

While cross-country differences in technology costs are hard to ascertain, it is possible to account for the cost of capital on a country-by-country basis.

Renewable Energy

Well, some of the details are hard to ascertain, but the broad strokes are clear.

Huffington Post

Precise estimates of damage are hard to ascertain because the floodwaters have wiped out many roads, making access difficult.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Real-life connections with the Errol Flynn suite and the Oceans 11 suite are harder to ascertain.

The Guardian - Travel

Size, breed or senior labeling claims must meet the criteria for adequate adult pet nutritional needs; in reality, the more precise claims are harder to ascertain.

WikiHow

But it is hard to ascertain Milicic's value because he rarely plays.

The New York Times

Of course, these are observational studies, and as such causation can be hard to ascertain.

The Guardian

Quite what he and the other singer are saying is hard to ascertain.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are hard to ascertain", ensure the context clearly indicates what is difficult to determine. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject or information in question.

Common error

Avoid using "are hard to ascertain" in situations where simpler alternatives like "are unclear" or "are unknown" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are hard to ascertain" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing something that is difficult to determine or understand. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts, such as determining causes or impacts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are hard to ascertain" is a grammatically sound and acceptably formal way to express that something is difficult to determine or understand. As shown by Ludwig, it is most frequently encountered in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While useful, it should be employed judiciously, avoiding overuse in simple situations where less complex phrasing would suffice. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and provides examples that illustrate its usage in various contexts, emphasizing its utility in expressing uncertainty or complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are difficult to determine

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", emphasizing the level of challenge in determining something.

are challenging to identify

Substitutes "ascertain" with "identify" and "hard" with "challenging", focusing on the difficulty in recognizing something.

cannot be easily determined

Replaces "hard" with "not easily" and uses a passive construction.

are tough to establish

Emphasizes the robustness needed to establish something, replacing "hard" with "tough" and "ascertain" with "establish".

are not easy to figure out

Uses a more informal tone, replacing "ascertain" with "figure out" and "hard" with "not easy".

are not readily apparent

Focuses on the lack of immediate visibility or understanding.

are tricky to pin down

Uses a more idiomatic expression, indicating something is elusive or hard to define precisely.

are open to question

Suggests that the matter is debatable or not yet settled, indicating uncertainty.

are uncertain

Indicates a lack of definiteness or reliability, offering a direct alternative to the original phrase.

are obscure

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective, indicating a lack of clarity or visibility.

FAQs

How can I use "are hard to ascertain" in a sentence?

Use "are hard to ascertain" to indicate that something is difficult to determine or understand. For example, "The exact causes of the economic downturn "are hard to ascertain" without further investigation".

What are some alternatives to "are hard to ascertain"?

You can use alternatives like "are difficult to determine", "are challenging to identify", or "are not easy to figure out" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "are difficult to ascertain" or "are hard to ascertain"?

Both "are hard to ascertain" and "are difficult to ascertain" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the desired level of formality; "difficult" is generally considered more formal than "hard".

What does it mean when something "is hard to ascertain"?

When something "is hard to ascertain", it means it is difficult to discover, determine, or understand it. It implies that the information is not readily available or easily understood.