challenging to categorize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenging to categorize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is difficult to classify or organize into specific categories. Example: "The new species discovered in the rainforest is so unique that it is challenging to categorize within existing taxonomic frameworks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Second, it might be challenging to categorize the knowledge synthesis methods accurately (e.g., distinguishing between quantitative/qualitative or mixed / hybrid approaches or those not formally categorized) and to appropriately match a research question with a synthesis method.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But Mr. Tillinghast's style is a challenge to categorize.

The New York Times

In spite of the challenge to categorize his defensive abilities, his versatility and athleticism has allowed him to play at all positions in the major leagues except pitcher, shortstop, and catcher.

Wikipedia

Similar to gene expression analyses, the challenge is to categorize the individual methylated genes in a meaningful way to build a predictive classifier.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

She repeated memorized phrases from her personal journals and challenged passers-by to categorize her by race, gender, and class.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Students of animal communication face significant challenges when deciding how to categorize calls into subunits, calls and call series.

Animal Behaviour

It is a challenge for modern medicine to categorize human diseases based on pathological, etiological, epidemiological, and clinical approaches.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

To categorize the challenges in determining the extent of missing participant data in randomized trials and suggest potential solutions for systematic review authors.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

This approach provides a means for health education researchers to categorize gaps and challenges identified through educational needs assessments, and facilitates the application of these findings by educators and knowledge translators, by linking the gaps to recommended behavioral change techniques.

BMC Health Services Research

THE POISON MASTER (Bantam, paper, $5.99) strikes out in a new direction, less easy to categorize and in some ways more challenging.

The New York Times - Books

We chose to categorize various NHP into groups, however, due to the nature of NHP categories and codification, inconsistency of labeling, and nomenclature made this challenging.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "challenging to categorize", provide specific reasons why the subject is difficult to classify. This adds clarity and depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging to categorize" as a vague statement. Always elaborate on the specific attributes or complexities that make the subject difficult to classify. For example, instead of saying "The novel is challenging to categorize", specify that "The novel is challenging to categorize because it blends elements of science fiction, historical fiction, and romance."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging to categorize" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or subject. It indicates that the subject possesses qualities that make it difficult to place into established categories, as suggested by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "challenging to categorize" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes something difficult to classify. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its presence across diverse sources—from scientific journals to news media—highlights its versatility. To enhance clarity, always provide specific reasons for the classification difficulty. Consider alternatives such as "difficult to classify" or "hard to define" to tailor the expression to your specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to classify

Replaces "challenging" with "difficult", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

hard to define

Shifts the focus from categorization to definition, implying a similar problem of unclear boundaries.

not easily classified

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the resistance to categorization.

defies categorization

Emphasizes the impossibility of categorization, suggesting a unique or unconventional nature.

resists classification

Similar to "defies categorization" but slightly less forceful.

difficult to pigeonhole

Uses a more informal term ("pigeonhole") for categorize, implying a resistance to being neatly placed.

eludes classification

Suggests that the subject avoids or escapes categorization.

hard to pin down

Focuses on the difficulty of specifying or identifying the exact nature of something.

unamenable to categorization

Uses a more formal and academic tone to convey resistance to categorization.

presents a classification challenge

Rephrases the difficulty as a challenge, highlighting the active effort required to categorize.

FAQs

How can I use "challenging to categorize" in a sentence?

You can use "challenging to categorize" to describe anything that doesn't fit neatly into established categories. For example, "The artist's work is "challenging to categorize" because it combines painting, sculpture, and performance art."

What are some alternatives to "challenging to categorize"?

Alternatives include "difficult to classify", "hard to define", or "not easily classified", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "challenging to categorize"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the inherent difficulty in placing something within existing classification systems, due to its complexity, novelty, or hybrid nature.

Is "challenging to categorize" formal or informal?

"Challenging to categorize" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal alternatives include "hard to pin down" or "difficult to pigeonhole".