be difficult to examine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be difficult to examine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that poses challenges or obstacles to analysis or scrutiny. Example: "The data collected from the experiment can be difficult to examine due to its complexity and the number of variables involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

While, it would be difficult to examine whether drinking itself was a causal phenotype that derived selection pressure.

Nature

Basic and translational research provides the opportunity to evaluate variables that may be difficult to examine thoroughly with clinical populations.

Learning and Motivation

According to Easton [18], case studies offer the possibility of exploring specifically defined problems which otherwise could be difficult to examine.

European Transport Research Review

Younger children are unable to provide a clear history and may be difficult to examine.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Health status and performance indicators can be difficult to examine due to the absence of health and management information systems.

Conflict and Health

Collections housed in geographically isolated regions, such as the Hawaiian Islands, can be difficult to examine by scientists in other parts of the world.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Women's experiences of physical examination mirrors the strategies reported by professionals who have experience of women who are difficult to examine, although guidelines for more therapeutic examination do exist [ 32].

BMC Women's Health

Amongst the disadvantages of US are the facts that the examination is operator dependent and not reproducible and that it is difficult to examine the whole GI tract, with additional difficulties in obese children and in case of gas fullness of the bowel.

Insights into Imaging

Unfortunately they are hung so far above eye level it is difficult to examine them closely.

The New York Times - Travel

Cotransmission is difficult to examine experimentally but can be explored using a computational model.

Harvard University

Pidgeon said it was difficult to examine the reasons for people's attitudes in quantitative surveys such as this.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be difficult to examine" when you want to highlight inherent challenges in the process of investigation or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "be difficult to examine" without providing context. Saying something is "difficult to examine" without specifying why can make your statement seem vague and unsupported. Always provide specific reasons or contributing factors.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "be difficult to examine" is to act as a descriptor, indicating that something poses challenges to analysis or scrutiny. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. The phrase serves to qualify a subject by attributing a level of complexity or inaccessibility to its examination.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be difficult to examine" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate challenges in analyzing or scrutinizing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, primarily in scientific, academic, and news-related domains. While versatile, providing specific reasons for the difficulty is crucial for clarity. Related phrases, such as "be challenging to investigate" or "be hard to analyze", can offer nuanced alternatives. By avoiding overgeneralization and clearly stating the obstacles, you can effectively use "be difficult to examine" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be challenging to investigate

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "examine" with "investigate", emphasizing the demanding nature of the investigation.

be hard to analyze

Substitutes "difficult" with "hard" and "examine" with "analyze", focusing on the complexity of the analysis.

be problematic to scrutinize

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and "examine" with "scrutinize", highlighting the troublesome aspect of the scrutiny.

present a challenge to assess

Changes the structure to emphasize the challenge posed in assessing something.

pose difficulties for inspection

Emphasizes the difficulties encountered during the process of inspection.

be complex to evaluate

Replaces "difficult" with "complex" and "examine" with "evaluate", highlighting the intricate nature of the evaluation.

be tough to dissect

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult" and "dissect" instead of "examine", suggesting a more in-depth and potentially complicated analysis.

be not easy to explore

Expresses the difficulty in exploring something using a more direct and simple wording.

be intricate to unravel

Replaces "difficult" with "intricate" and "examine" with "unravel", suggesting a complicated situation that needs careful handling.

be a puzzle to comprehend

Transforms the phrase to indicate that understanding something is like solving a puzzle.

FAQs

What does "be difficult to examine" mean?

The phrase "be difficult to examine" means something presents challenges or obstacles when trying to analyze, investigate, or understand it thoroughly. It suggests that a simple or straightforward assessment is not possible.

What can I say instead of "be difficult to examine"?

You can use alternatives like "be challenging to investigate", "be hard to analyze", or "be problematic to scrutinize" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "be difficult to examine"?

Use "be difficult to examine" when you want to emphasize the inherent challenges or complexities involved in analyzing or investigating a particular subject, situation, or piece of data. It's suitable when the reasons for the difficulty are significant and relevant to the discussion.

Is "be difficult to examine" formal or informal language?

The phrase "be difficult to examine" is considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider more sophisticated alternatives to maintain a consistent tone.