are hard to quantify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are hard to quantify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to things which cannot be easily measured or estimated with numerical quantities. For example: "The intangible benefits of learning a new language are hard to quantify."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But these things are hard to quantify.

The New York Times

These things are hard to quantify.

The Guardian - Music

Warner has been the prime example of a player whose contributions are hard to quantify.

The New York Times - Sports

There are risks in all of this for Mr. Bush, but they are hard to quantify.

The New York Times

Such damages are hard to quantify, and often produce huge awards by sympathetic juries.

The New York Times

But in the financial sector, the benefits of innovation are hard to quantify.

The Economist

The opportunity costs of stymied progress are hard to quantify, but they are likely to be vast.

The Economist

On another, however, the global American corporation expands U.S. power in ways that are hard to quantify but significant.

The New York Times

The consequences of Back to the Future in terms of how millions of us viewed a future we're fast approaching are hard to quantify.

The Guardian - Film

Because of the dubious legality and the absence of a sanctioning body, transcontinental and endurance-driving records are hard to quantify.

The New York Times - Sports

Though statistics are useful in defining existing population patterns, the reasons behind the various demographic shifts in the last decade are hard to quantify.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are hard to quantify" when discussing intangible benefits, abstract concepts, or the impact of qualitative factors that lack precise numerical values. For example, "The social benefits of community engagement are hard to quantify."

Common error

Avoid using "are hard to quantify" as a blanket statement to dismiss the need for further investigation. Even if precise quantification is impossible, strive to provide qualitative assessments or estimations to support your claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are hard to quantify" functions as a predicative adjective, describing a subject's characteristic of being difficult to measure or express numerically. It indicates that while the subject may exist or have an impact, assigning a concrete value to it is challenging, as Ludwig's examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "are hard to quantify" serves as a crucial tool for acknowledging the existence and potential impact of factors that resist precise numerical assessment. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Science. While the sentiment analysis underscores the challenges associated with quantification, it also encourages users to strive for qualitative assessments to support their claims. In essence, "are hard to quantify" highlights the limitations of purely quantitative analysis and underscores the importance of considering qualitative insights.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are difficult to measure

Replaces "hard" with "difficult" and "quantify" with "measure", emphasizing the challenge in measurement.

are challenging to assess

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "quantify" with "assess", highlighting the complexity of evaluation.

are not easily measured

Uses a negative construction to convey the difficulty in measurement.

are tough to evaluate

Replaces "hard" with "tough" and "quantify" with "evaluate", suggesting a rigorous assessment is needed.

are immeasurable

Emphasizes the impossibility of measurement.

are not readily quantifiable

Uses a more formal tone to indicate that the subject cannot be easily expressed numerically.

are difficult to pin down

Uses an idiomatic expression meaning difficult to define or ascertain precisely.

resist easy measurement

Highlights the subject's inherent resistance to being measured.

are qualitatively assessed

Focuses on assessing the subject based on qualities rather than numerical values.

cannot be precisely determined

States that the exact value or amount cannot be established.

FAQs

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

You can use "are hard to quantify" when describing aspects that are difficult to measure numerically. For example, "The long-term effects of the policy "are hard to quantify" but are believed to be significant."

What phrases are similar to "are hard to quantify"?

Similar phrases include "are difficult to measure", "are challenging to assess", or "are not easily measured".

Is it always acceptable to say that something "are hard to quantify"?

While it's grammatically correct, avoid overusing it as a substitute for deeper exploration. Acknowledge the difficulty, but attempt to offer alternative assessments or estimates where possible.

What's the difference between "are hard to quantify" and ""are difficult to measure""?

The terms are largely interchangeable. "Are hard to quantify" emphasizes the challenge in assigning numerical values, while ""are difficult to measure"" focuses on the challenge in obtaining precise measurements.