are hard to resolve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are hard to resolve" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing issues, problems, or conflicts that are difficult to solve or clarify. Example: "The discrepancies in the financial report are hard to resolve without further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Strange things do happen, and some mysteries are hard to resolve.

The New York Times

The CT scan completed that morning shows clotting in my liver, and blood in my lungs--two opposing complications that are hard to resolve concurrently.

Huffington Post

For all the attention this situation has received, cases like this crop up frequently and are hard to resolve, said Madeline Bernstein, Los Angeles president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which helps mediate disputes.

Los Angeles Times

On the other hand, it is not difficult to think of cases for which this is very difficult and for which sensitive processes occur on the parts of the domain which are hard to resolve.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Some questions of identity are harder to resolve than others.

The New Yorker

He gazed upward and added, "I'm really interested in scales that are harder to resolve".

The New Yorker

The political differences are harder to resolve because of America's rejection of China's political system.

Huffington Post

It also appears that regions forming connectivity relations are harder to resolve or map, on average.

Bioinformatics

Measurement errors increased when imaging in the foveola where photoreceptors are harder to resolve, because image cross-correlations are compromised when contrast is reduced.

Biomedical Optics Express

This assumption reflects our belief that the boundaries of edematous regions are harder to resolve than those of the tumor core.

Biology Direct

Empirically, the question has been hard to resolve.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are hard to resolve", consider the context and whether a more specific term might be appropriate, such as "intractable" or "challenging", to convey the nuances of the difficulty.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "are hard to resolve" when a more direct, active voice would be clearer and more impactful. For instance, instead of "The issues are hard to resolve", try "Resolving these issues is hard."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are hard to resolve" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the difficulty associated with finding a solution or reaching a conclusion. Ludwig confirms its validity through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are hard to resolve" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe issues, problems, or conflicts that present significant challenges in finding a solution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, indicating a neutral to professional register. While versatile, consider using more specific synonyms like "are difficult to resolve" or "are challenging to resolve" to better convey the nuances of the difficulty. Avoiding overuse of passive voice will also enhance clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are difficult to resolve

Replaces "hard" with a synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

are complicated to resolve

Uses "complicated" to suggest the presence of many interconnected elements making resolution difficult.

are challenging to resolve

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging", indicating a demanding but potentially surmountable obstacle.

are tough to resolve

Replaces "hard" with "tough", an informal synonym indicating difficulty.

are not easy to resolve

Uses a negative construction to convey difficulty, softening the tone slightly.

present difficulties in resolution

Restructures the sentence to focus on the difficulties inherent in the resolution process.

pose problems for resolution

Highlights the problematic aspect of the situation, indicating obstacles to overcome.

defy easy resolution

Emphasizes the lack of simple solutions, suggesting a more complex approach is needed.

are resistant to resolution

Implies a strong opposition to being resolved, indicating a stubborn problem.

are intractable

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word that means difficult or impossible to manage or solve.

FAQs

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

You can use "are hard to resolve" to describe problems, issues, or conflicts that present significant difficulties in finding a solution. For example: "The differences between the two parties "are hard to resolve" without a mediator."

What's a more formal way to say "are hard to resolve"?

In more formal contexts, you might use phrases like "are difficult to resolve" or "present challenges in resolution" to maintain a professional tone.

Which is correct, "are hard to resolve" or "is hard to resolve"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "are hard to resolve" for plural subjects (e.g., "The issues are hard to resolve") and "is hard to resolve" for singular subjects (e.g., "The problem is hard to resolve").

What can I say instead of "are hard to resolve" to emphasize impossibility?

To emphasize the impossibility of finding a solution, you could use phrases like "are intractable" or "defy easy resolution". These alternatives suggest a higher degree of difficulty.