be difficult to scan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be difficult to scan" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is hard to read or interpret quickly, such as text or information presented in a confusing manner. Example: "The report was poorly formatted, making it difficult to scan for key information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Two caveats: Many products have the bar code on the package, not the product, so it will be difficult to scan your TV unless you still have the box.

The New York Times

Some clothing may be difficult to scan through.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These are difficult to scan quickly.

Web Bloopers 60 Common Web Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Also, largearea emulsions are difficult to scan.

Earth, Planets and Space

Tumours of this size are difficult to scan with clinical scanners [5].

European Radiology Experimental

In general, for any analytical method, chemical and structural imaging can be done in one of two ways: A fine probe (a micro or nanoprobe) of the incident radiation may be scanned across the sample (or where the probe is difficult to scan, the sample may be moved across the probe) [7,12-14].

Heritage Science

It's difficult to scan this list and be optimistic about long-term love.

Huffington Post

Twenty-two subjects (2.3%) were graded as grade 1 (in three of these cases, it was commented that the liver was difficult to scan as it was located high up under the costal margin) and a further 16.9% (n = 158) were graded as grade 2, giving a total of 180 subjects (19.2%) who were classified as "probable normal".

Diabetes Care

It's all there, but it can be difficult to read a long insurance policy as a scanned document on your screen, especially the fine print.

The New York Times - Tech

Flattened fossils can be difficult to CT scan (Abel et al. 2012), and visualizing them in 3-D will generally not provide any significant information that could not be obtained by viewing them under a microscope.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Patients with acute fracture would be difficult to perform the required scanning.

3D Printing in Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be difficult to scan" in your writing, ensure the reason for the difficulty is clear. For example, specify if it's due to poor formatting, complex language, or a lack of clear structure.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice constructions like "be difficult to scan", as it can make your writing sound less direct. Consider rephrasing to emphasize who or what is experiencing the difficulty. For instance, instead of "the document is difficult to scan", try "readers find the document difficult to scan."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be difficult to scan" functions as a predicative adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the quality of something, indicating that it presents a challenge for quick comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be difficult to scan" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned expression used to describe something that isn't easily or quickly readable. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is suitable across diverse contexts. The analysis reveals that it commonly appears in scientific and news media. When incorporating this phrase into your writing, ensure that the reasons behind the scanning difficulty are explicit for clarity. Consider alternatives like "be hard to peruse" or "be challenging to review quickly" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be hard to peruse

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "scan" with "peruse", both suggesting a challenge in quickly reading something.

be challenging to review quickly

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and adds "quickly" to emphasize the time aspect of scanning.

be tough to skim

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult" and "skim" as a synonym for quickly scanning.

present a scanning challenge

Reformulates the phrase to focus on the challenge itself rather than the difficulty.

be not easily scannable

Uses a more formal tone, highlighting the lack of ease in scanning.

be cumbersome to read through

Shifts the focus to the cumbersomeness of the reading process, implying a slow or difficult scan.

be a slog to get through

Emphasizes the laborious nature of reading, suggesting it's not easy to quickly scan.

resist quick scanning

Highlights the resistance of the content to being scanned quickly.

not lend itself to quick review

Focuses on the unsuitability of the content for a quick review, which is closely related to scanning.

be impenetrable to quick understanding

Highlights that is not readable at all and not just slow to get to the key points.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "be difficult to scan"?

You can use alternatives such as "be hard to peruse", "be challenging to review quickly", or "be tough to skim" depending on the context.

What makes something "be difficult to scan"?

Something might "be difficult to scan" due to poor formatting, complex language, a lack of clear structure, or simply being too lengthy. The phrase implies a barrier to quick understanding or review.

Is it better to use "be difficult to scan" or "be hard to read"?

While both phrases are similar, "be difficult to scan" specifically suggests a problem with quickly extracting key information. "Be hard to read" is a more general statement about readability. The best choice depends on the specific issue you want to highlight.

How to use "be difficult to scan" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase in sentences like, "The long insurance policy can "be difficult to scan" on your screen, especially the fine print," or "These are "be difficult to scan" quickly."