be tough to parse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be tough to parse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult to understand or interpret, often in the context of language, data, or complex information. Example: "The legal document was filled with jargon, making it tough to parse for someone without a legal background."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The few visible manifestations of incipient terrorism, on the other hand, tend to be tough to parse -- a man talking on the phone in a language the average mail carrier does not speak, a man withdrawing money from an ATM, a man renting a truck.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Guardian post gets pretty nitpicky and specific, to the extent that it's tough to parse if (like me) you haven't read those stories recently.

TechCrunch

The women's field at the Games is tougher to parse.

The New York Times - Sports

Such abstractness can be hard to parse.

Biology Direct

For someone unfamiliar with the series' deep and complicated lore, though and I raise my hand, here—it can be overwhelmingly tough to parse a real sense of the story from initially unrelated objects, a bone here, a bell there.

Vice

For someone unfamiliar with the series' deep and complicated lore, though – and I raise my hand, here – it can be overwhelmingly tough to parse a real sense of the story from initially unrelated objects, a bone here, a bell there.

Vice

But to my untrained eye, it was still tough to parse exactly what I was looking at.

The New York Times - Travel

The blurrier numbers elicited by Mr. Zogby are sometimes tough to parse.

The New York Times - Books

When he re-started, it was hard to parse.

The New Yorker

You're apt to wind up with sporadic scribbles that are hard to parse, upon review.

The New Yorker

It was tough to know.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be tough to parse", ensure the context clearly indicates what is difficult to understand. Provide sufficient background or context to aid comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "be tough to parse" when simpler alternatives like "difficult to understand" suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be tough to parse" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a noun or pronoun by attributing the quality of being difficult to understand or interpret. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be tough to parse" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes something difficult to understand or interpret. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and serves to express complexity. It's frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to slightly formal register. While there are simpler alternatives like "be difficult to understand", "be tough to parse" adds a nuanced layer of complexity. Be mindful of overuse in simple contexts to avoid sounding pretentious. Top sources employing this phrase include The New York Times and Vice, illustrating its suitability for analytical and informative writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be difficult to understand

Replaces "tough to parse" with a more straightforward expression of difficulty in comprehension.

be hard to decipher

Emphasizes the effort required to decode or interpret something.

be challenging to interpret

Highlights the complexity involved in understanding the meaning.

be not easy to grasp

Focuses on the mental effort needed to comprehend something.

be obscure

Indicates a lack of clarity or explicitness.

be complex to analyze

Stresses the intricacy of breaking down something for understanding.

be impenetrable

Suggests an inability to understand or get through something.

be beyond comprehension

Indicates that something is impossible to understand.

be abstruse

Implies a level of difficulty due to the depth or obscurity of the subject matter.

be convoluted

Suggests something is complex and difficult to follow due to its intricate structure.

FAQs

What does "be tough to parse" mean?

The phrase "be tough to parse" means that something is difficult to understand or interpret. It suggests that the information is complex or unclear.

What can I say instead of "be tough to parse"?

You can use alternatives like "be difficult to understand", "be hard to decipher", or "be challenging to interpret".

How can I use "be tough to parse" in a sentence?

Example: "The legal document was filled with jargon, making it "be tough to parse" for someone without a legal background".

Is "be tough to parse" formal or informal?

"Be tough to parse" can be used in both neutral and slightly formal contexts. It is often seen in news articles and analytical writing. Simpler alternatives may be preferred in very informal settings.