challenging to justify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenging to justify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation, decision, or action that is difficult to defend or explain logically. Example: "The company's decision to cut funding for the project was challenging to justify, given its potential benefits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

However, due to uncertainty about computing performance on the cloud, many manufacturers find it challenging to justify and adopt Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM).

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

To cope with this increased competition, companies in high-wage countries often employ a differentiation strategy to meet individual customer needs, as it becomes increasingly challenging to justify higher production costs through superior product quality.

Procedia CIRP

Although CBDM has the potential to reduce costs associated with high performance computing (HPC) and maintaining ICT infrastructures in the context of engineering design and manufacturing, it is challenging to justify the potential cost savings associated with HPC in the cloud because of the complexity in the cost-benefit analysis of migrating to CBDM.

Procedia Manufacturing

Difficulty in securing funding was frequently mentioned, but beyond that, participants reported that it is challenging to justify including financial support for a methodologist in grant application budgets in an environment where the funds awarded are anticipated to be less than requested.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

In addition, cost effectiveness is a major consideration for any home water management solutions and it is often challenging to justify the cost effectiveness of smart water-efficient gadgets.

Smart Water

Moreover, selecting the analytical tool that can synthesize the decision makers' judgments is not an easy task considering the large number of methods available, which often makes it challenging to justify the choice.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But arts organisations are challenged to justify themselves on more rigorous grounds.

The Guardian - Arts

They can be challenged to justify their evaluation and "to acknowledge fault if an adequate defense cannot be provided" (Smith, 2008: 370).

Nature

"As the prospects for another head-on clash of large mechanized land armies seem less likely, the Army will be increasingly challenged to justify the number, size, and cost of its heavy formations," Mr. Gates warned.

The New York Times

Challenged to justify applying this to secular, non-practising Muslims, Zeman invokes a former Czech education minister in calling Islam "a religion of death" and points to what he says are the teachings of the Qur'an.

The Guardian

The government has been challenged to justify an "incredibly distasteful" proposal in Wednesday's budget which would require a woman who had a third child as the result of rape to justify her position in order to avoid losing tax credits.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "difficult to defend" or "hard to explain" if a simpler phrasing better suits your tone and audience.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging to justify" in situations where the difficulty is minimal or obvious. It can sound pretentious. Simpler alternatives are often better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging to justify" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It describes a state where providing a valid reason or explanation is difficult.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "challenging to justify" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations or decisions that are difficult to defend or explain. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and applicable across various contexts, although it appears with uncommon frequency. While appropriate for formal writing and news reporting, simpler alternatives might be preferred in less formal settings. Remember to provide clear context when employing this phrase to avoid ambiguity and enhance the clarity of your writing. You can use alternatives like "difficult to defend", "hard to explain", or "tough to rationalize".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to defend

Focuses on the difficulty in protecting a position or action from criticism.

hard to explain

Emphasizes the struggle to make something understandable or acceptable.

tough to rationalize

Highlights the problem of finding a logical basis for something.

not easily supported

Indicates a lack of evidence or reasons to back up a claim or decision.

problematic to validate

Focuses on the struggle to prove the accuracy or correctness of something.

not justifiable

States that something cannot be defended or shown to be right or reasonable.

difficult to substantiate

Highlights the challenge of providing evidence to support a claim.

hard to give reasons for

Emphasizes the difficulty in articulating the motivations or causes behind something.

presents a justification challenge

Shifts the focus to the existence of a problem in the act of justifying.

raises questions about validity

Highlights the issue of whether something is sound, fair, or reasonable.

FAQs

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

You can use "challenging to justify" to describe a situation where it's difficult to provide a convincing reason or explanation for something. For example: "The budget cuts were "challenging to justify" given the department's previous success".

What can I say instead of "challenging to justify"?

Alternatives include "difficult to defend", "hard to explain", or "tough to rationalize", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to justify" or "challenging to justify"?

Both "difficult to justify" and "challenging to justify" are grammatically correct. "Challenging" may imply a slightly greater degree of difficulty compared to "difficult", but they are largely interchangeable.

What makes something "challenging to justify"?

A situation might be "challenging to justify" if there are conflicting priorities, limited resources, or potential negative consequences that make it hard to provide a convincing rationale. For example, a controversial decision might be "challenging to justify".