challenging to quantify

USAGE SUMMARY

"challenging to quantify" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe something that is difficult or complex to measure with an exact numerical value. For example, you could say: "The amount of stress people experience in their daily lives is incredibly challenging to quantify."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

It is challenging to quantify sources of CMC.

Advances in Space Research

C.E.O.s will find it challenging to quantify the benefits of a charitable-giving program or an education initiative.

The New Yorker

However, it remains challenging to quantify the effects of subscale heterogeneities on dispersion.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

It thus creates monetary and non-monetary benefits, both of which may be challenging to quantify.

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

The sole biophysical input, biomass, is challenging to quantify robustly via spectral methods.

Field Crops Research

The biogeochemical processes in these settings have global scale implications but are poorly understood and challenging to quantify.

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The country's biggest supermarket group has long been challenged to quantify what its price cuts are actually worth.

The Guardian - Business

It is, after all, some notion of functional behavior that distinguishes life from inanimate matter, and it is a challenge to quantify this functionality in a language that parallels our characterization of other physical systems.

Princeton University

As the sizes of transistors are scaled down to submicron regime, new materials and multilayered thin film structures are applied, which pose a great challenge to quantify the adhesion energy of the interfaces in order to optimize the structures of the multilayered thin films.

Surface and Coatings Technology

It is a significant challenge to quantify the biomass, productivity, and functions of dominant microbial components in deep-sea vents.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

It is a major challenge to quantify the expected loss, for example assigning occurrence probabilities using quantitative approaches such as the applied storm risk model.

Forest Ecosystems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "challenging to quantify", clearly state why the subject is difficult to measure. Providing context enhances clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging to quantify" as a vague statement. Always provide a specific reason or example of why the quantification is difficult. Lack of justification weakens your statement and can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging to quantify" functions as an adjectival phrase. It describes the difficulty associated with measuring something numerically. As shown by Ludwig, this often appears in academic and professional writing to acknowledge limitations in measurement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "challenging to quantify" is a common expression used to describe something that is difficult to measure numerically. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used. It often appears in academic, scientific, and professional contexts as revealed by Ludwig's analysis, particularly in the Sciences. While many sources show consistent usage, it is advisable to provide justification as to what exactly is defying quantification, for clarity. Alternatives like "hard to measure" or "difficult to assess numerically" can be used for variety, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hard to measure

Uses a more direct synonym for "challenging".

Difficult to assess numerically

Replaces "quantify" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the numerical aspect.

Not easily quantifiable

Changes the structure to use "quantifiable" as an adjective.

Presents quantification challenges

Rephrases to focus on the challenges involved in the quantification process.

Eludes precise measurement

Uses more formal language to convey the difficulty in measuring accurately.

Resists quantitative analysis

Emphasizes the resistance to analysis through numerical methods.

Impedes accurate measurement

Highlights the obstruction of precise measurement.

Difficult to put a number on

Uses a more informal and conversational expression.

Poses a measurement problem

Frames the quantification as a problem related to measurement.

Is qualitatively assessed

Indicates that the assessment is done through qualitative means instead of quantitative.

FAQs

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

You can use "challenging to quantify" to describe aspects that are hard to measure numerically. For example: "The impact of social media on political opinions is "challenging to quantify"".

What are some alternatives to "challenging to quantify"?

Alternatives include "hard to measure", "difficult to assess numerically", or "not easily quantifiable", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "challenge to quantify" or "challenging to quantify"?

"Challenging to quantify" is generally preferred as it describes the inherent difficulty in quantification. "Challenge to quantify" is grammatically correct but refers to quantification being a challenge, not necessarily inherently difficult. The former is more commonly used.

What makes something "challenging to quantify"?

Something is "challenging to quantify" when there are complexities that prevent precise numerical measurement. This could stem from a lack of data, abstract qualities, or complex interactions.