are too patchy to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are too patchy to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is inconsistent or lacking in coverage or completeness, often in relation to information or data. Example: "The results of the survey are too patchy to draw any meaningful conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Others were bought from families and from other anatomy collections, but the records are too patchy to establish the source of the 54 foetus and infant bodies in the collection.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Entire papers have been devoted to specific parts of this complex transition; the current paper offers nothing new and is too patchy to be considered a concise summary of the existing body of work.

Biology Direct

58 The coincidence in timing is striking, although the evidence for the scale and rapidity of the uptake of inoculation is too patchy to be confident that it occurred on a scale sufficient to explain the sudden drop in adult smallpox burials in London, within a seven-year period.

Economic History Review

In the poor one it is too patchy.

The Economist

But the National Childbirth Trust said services around the UK were too patchy, and that more awareness was needed.

BBC

The 5-day growth may be too patchy, the researchers write in the May issue of Evolution and Human Behavior, which suggests "a threshold of density and distribution may be necessary for beards to function as an attractive signal".

Science Magazine

On the other hand, Carr cautions, the fossil record is still too patchy to pin the success of tyrannosaurs on any particular feature of their brains.

Science Magazine

The use of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic setting was both too low and too patchy to make any major impact on survival.

British Journal of Cancer

It could even affect the outcome of next year's elections.Most of the damage so far is in the "subprime" mortgage market, which lends to people whose income is too low, or whose credit history too patchy, to qualify for an ordinary mortgage.

The Economist

The group descriptions are too breezy, too patchy and too personal (Tudge doesn't hesitate to rule on disputes between the experts) to recommend the book as an authoritative summary of current wisdom in biological classification.

The New York Times - Books

Its industries are dilapidated; roads, bridges and telephones are neglected; educational standards are patchy; and the home market is too small to attract many outsiders.Nonetheless, restoring outside confidence in the integrity of government would at least keep the aid coming.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are too patchy to", ensure that the subject you are describing has an expected level of uniformity or completeness. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a deficiency in coverage or consistency.

Common error

Avoid using "are too patchy to" when describing subjective qualities or preferences. This phrase is best suited for situations where a lack of consistent data or coverage is the primary issue, not simply a matter of taste or opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are too patchy to" functions as an evaluative descriptor, indicating that something lacks the necessary consistency, completeness, or reliability for a specific purpose. It serves to highlight a deficiency and often precedes an explanation of why this deficiency is problematic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Science & Research

16%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are too patchy to" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to describe something lacking consistency or completeness. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate in diverse contexts but particularly common in news, media, and scientific domains. While the phrase is not extremely frequent, understanding its meaning and appropriate application is crucial for clear and precise communication. Remember to focus on situations where a deficiency in coverage or consistency is the core issue, and you can confidently use "are too patchy to" to effectively convey this limitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are too uneven to

Replaces "patchy" with "uneven", emphasizing the lack of uniformity.

are too inconsistent to

Substitutes "patchy" with "inconsistent", highlighting the variability and unreliability.

are too incomplete to

Replaces "patchy" with "incomplete", focusing on the lack of comprehensive data.

lack sufficient detail to

Shifts the focus to the absence of necessary details, indicating a similar deficiency.

are not comprehensive enough to

Emphasizes the lack of overall coverage and completeness.

are too fragmented to

Replaces "patchy" with "fragmented", highlighting the broken or disconnected nature of the information.

are too sporadic to

Highlights the irregular and infrequent occurrence of data or information.

do not provide a complete picture to

Focuses on the inability to form a full or accurate understanding due to the limited information.

are too unreliable to

Highlights the untrustworthiness of the available information.

are too scattered to

Suggests the information is dispersed and lacks coherence.

FAQs

How can I use "are too patchy to" in a sentence?

The phrase "are too patchy to" is used to describe something that is inconsistent or lacking in coverage or completeness. For example: "The data "are too patchy to" draw any firm conclusions."

What are some alternatives to "are too patchy to"?

You can use alternatives like "are too inconsistent to", "are too incomplete to", or "lack sufficient detail to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "is too patchy to" instead of "are too patchy to"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "is" with singular subjects (e.g., 'The evidence is too patchy to be conclusive') and "are" with plural subjects (e.g., 'The results are too patchy to draw any conclusions').

What does it mean when something is described as "too patchy"?

When something is described as "too patchy", it means it's uneven, inconsistent, or incomplete. The information or coverage has gaps or lacks uniformity. For example: "The historical records "are too patchy to" provide a clear understanding of the event."