be hard to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be hard to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is difficult for someone to comprehend or grasp. Example: "The instructions were so complicated that they were hard to understand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Now, that would be hard to understand," Mr. Ehrenhalt said.

The New York Times

And royal decrees can be hard to understand.

The Guardian

"It can be hard to understand the innocence of the time," Ms. Berman said.

The New York Times - Arts

Even graduates from better-known institutions can be hard to understand.

The New York Times

The nuanced, idiomatic English of Britons, North Americans, Antipodeans (and Indians) can be hard to understand.

The Economist

He speaks with effort, although he can be hard to understand.

The New York Times - Health

There was an emptiness that may be hard to understand unless you've also been through it.

The New York Times

It can be hard to understand where everyone's coming from otherwise.

The Guardian

However it was very vile and may be hard to understand for little children.

The Guardian

Decades later, the importance of the paper may be hard to understand.

The New York Times

But there are two problems: it can be hard to understand, and it moves too slowly (except for blitz games).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be hard to understand", consider your audience. If writing for a general audience, ensure the surrounding context provides enough information to clarify the difficult concept. For expert audiences, you may need to provide additional context. For example: "The technical jargon can be hard to understand for non-experts."

Common error

Avoid using "be hard to understand" without specifying who finds it difficult. The difficulty of understanding is often subjective and depends on individual knowledge and experience. Instead of saying 'This concept is hard to understand,' specify 'This concept is hard to understand for beginners'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be hard to understand" functions as a predicative expression. It's used to describe the attribute of a subject, indicating that the subject poses a challenge to comprehension. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be hard to understand" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is difficult to comprehend. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression appears frequently across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific publications. While it's generally acceptable, consider the audience and provide adequate context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "be difficult to understand" or "be challenging to understand" can be used to vary your language, but "be hard to understand" remains a clear and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be difficult to understand

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", a direct synonym maintaining the same level of formality and meaning.

be challenging to understand

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging", suggesting the difficulty requires effort to overcome.

be tough to understand

Replaces "hard" with "tough", adding a slightly more informal tone.

be not easy to understand

Expresses the difficulty in understanding using a negative construction, slightly changing the emphasis.

be beyond my comprehension

Indicates that something is impossible for someone to understand, implying a higher degree of difficulty.

be obscure

Indicates the reason is because it is not clearly expressed or easily understood.

defy comprehension

Implies that the subject resists or makes it impossible to understand it

pose a cognitive challenge

Replaces the whole sentence with the reason that causes the fact of being difficult to understand

be unintelligible

This means that something can't be understood.

be baffling

Implying the fact that something causes someone to be completely unable to understand or explain it

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "hard to understand"?

When something is described as "hard to understand", it means that it requires significant effort or specialized knowledge to comprehend. The level of difficulty can vary depending on the topic and the individual's background.

What can I say instead of "be hard to understand"?

You can use alternatives like "be difficult to understand", "be challenging to understand", or "be tough to understand" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "be hard to understand" or "be difficult to understand"?

Both "be hard to understand" and "be difficult to understand" are correct and generally interchangeable. "Difficult" is slightly more formal, but the choice depends on the overall tone of your writing.

How can I make something less "hard to understand"?

To make something less "hard to understand", break down complex information into simpler parts, use clear and concise language, provide relevant examples, and consider your audience's existing knowledge.