are hard to evaluate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are hard to evaluate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the difficulty of assessing or measuring something, such as a concept, performance, or data. Example: "The results of the experiment are hard to evaluate due to the numerous variables involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Such perks are hard to evaluate and an unreasonable addition to a generous pension.Next, go for transparency.

The Economist

The compensation ratios are hard to evaluate because this year's payouts include the deferred portions of previous years' awards, and include only the current components of this year's.

The New York Times

But housing values are hard to evaluate, and Mr. Lindsey had a reputation as a market pessimist, said Mr. Hubbard, adding, "I thought, 'He's always a bear.' " In retrospect, Mr. Hubbard said, Mr. Lindsey was "absolutely right," and Mr. Thomas's charts "should have been a signal".

The New York Times

Complex sentences have implicit meaning and are hard to evaluate.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Such analyses are computationally expensive and the results are hard to evaluate.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

As a result besides some clusters that are in agreement with the existing domain knowledge we have surprisingly identified some additional clusters that are hard to evaluate.

Brain Informatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The festive season has gifts, but some are harder to evaluate than others.

The Guardian - Film

It is true that many worthy activities are harder to evaluate than others, and randomized controlled trials are often not feasible or appropriate.

Huffington Post

For example, it is hard to evaluate the result while there are no evaluations to green areas first.

City, Territory and Architecture

It's hard to evaluate.

The New Yorker

"Twitter is hard to evaluate.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are hard to evaluate", clearly indicate what specific aspects make the evaluation difficult. Providing context enhances clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "are hard to evaluate" without specifying what 'they' refers to. Always ensure the subject is clear to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are hard to evaluate" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's quality of being difficult to assess or judge. Ludwig AI shows examples where it modifies nouns like "perks", "housing values", or "class design".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are hard to evaluate" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express difficulty in assessing something. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in diverse contexts, from scientific studies to news reports. While the phrase is relatively common, ensure clarity by specifying what "they" refers to and what makes the evaluation challenging. Alternatives like "are difficult to assess" can be used to add variety. Pay attention to the subject-verb agreement, using "is" for singular subjects. By following these guidelines, you can effectively communicate evaluation challenges in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are difficult to assess

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", which is a direct synonym, maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

are challenging to measure

Shifts the focus to the act of measurement, implying that obtaining precise values is problematic.

are not easy to quantify

Highlights the lack of straightforward numerical representation.

pose evaluation challenges

Rephrases the difficulty as a challenge in the evaluation process, adding a layer of complexity.

are complex to judge

Uses "complex" to describe the intricacy involved in forming an opinion or decision.

are tough to gauge

Emphasizes the uncertainty and imprecision in estimating or determining the value.

defy simple assessment

Highlights the inability to easily or superficially assess something.

are not readily appraised

Focuses on the unavailability of an immediate or obvious judgment of worth.

present interpretive ambiguities

Highlights potential confusion while interpreting the data.

are subject to biased valuation

Highlights possible external factors that are influencing the valuation.

FAQs

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

You can use "are hard to evaluate" to describe situations where something is difficult to assess or judge. For example, "The long-term effects of the policy "are hard to evaluate" due to the many contributing factors".

What phrases can I use instead of "are hard to evaluate"?

Alternatives include phrases like "are difficult to assess", "are challenging to measure", or "are not easy to quantify", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "is hard to evaluate" instead of "are hard to evaluate"?

The choice between "is" and "are" depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use "is hard to evaluate" for singular subjects (e.g., "The data is hard to evaluate"), and "are hard to evaluate" for plural subjects (e.g., "The results are hard to evaluate").

What makes something "hard to evaluate"?

Things may be "hard to evaluate" due to factors like lack of clear criteria, complex interactions, insufficient data, or subjective influences. For instance, the success of a long-term environmental project may be "are hard to evaluate" because many variables interact to affect the outcome.