challenging to replicate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenging to replicate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is difficult to reproduce or duplicate, often in contexts like research, experiments, or creative works. Example: "The results of the experiment were intriguing, but they were also challenging to replicate in subsequent trials."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The contribution of the personal characteristics and skills of the feeding team to the intervention was important and may be challenging to replicate.

BMJ Open

A strict standardization of telemedicine interventions may thus prove difficult and the intervention may be challenging to replicate and generalize across settings and studies.

BMC Health Services Research

Despite the benefits of orthotopic systems, they can also be quite time consuming and challenging to replicate as cell inoculations are typically conducted endobronchially, requiring skillful precision and practice.

BioMed Research International

Furthermore, red blood cell density and velocity in a real microvascular network are complicated and difficult to measure directly [ 38], and challenging to replicate in an in vitro experiment.

Biomedical Optics Express

Even the most successful of these small-scale projects often fail to be mainstreamed into large-scale operations, because experimental trials generally use many resources that are challenging to replicate in large-scale operations.

Global health, science and practice

Other studies suggested based on ASE that his may be a much more common phenomena and that it potentially may be sex specific [ 15, 20], yet later studies found it challenging to replicate these results both in mouse and human [ 14, 26].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He would be challenged to replicate on a national level his success governing Buenos Aires.

Huffington Post

As Ren 10 moves towards its goal of 100 (and perhaps beyond), it will be a continuing challenge to replicate good schools and open new ones.

The Economist

Third time out, he and producer Alex McGowan have not only nailed the live act, they've gone further, creating a monster that could be a challenge to replicate on stage.

The Guardian - Music

"The players have a challenge to replicate that flowing style of football, but Aberdeen will put up a barrier to stop us playing and, whatever that may be, we will have to overcome that".

BBC

The news appears to confirm reports in July that Apple was gearing up to revisit how it sells its smartphones in the country, after finding it a challenge to replicate its usual model of selling through carriers with handset subsidies — not a typical route in Russia, and one that the carriers apparently thought came with too onerous conditions.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly identify the specific factors that make something "challenging to replicate". This provides context and helps others understand the complexities involved.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging to replicate" when the process is merely time-consuming or requires specialized equipment. Reserve it for situations where fundamental aspects make replication genuinely difficult or uncertain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging to replicate" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun, often referring to a process, result, or experiment. It signifies that reproducing something is difficult due to specific factors or complexities, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "challenging to replicate" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes something difficult to reproduce. As shown by Ludwig examples, it commonly appears in scientific and news contexts. While "difficult to reproduce", "hard to duplicate", and "tough to emulate" serve as alternatives, the original phrase suitably conveys the combination of difficulty and complexity involved in replication. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to reproduce

Replaces "challenging" with "difficult" and "replicate" with "reproduce", focusing on the act of recreating something.

hard to duplicate

Substitutes "challenging" with "hard" and "replicate" with "duplicate", highlighting the effort required for imitation.

tough to emulate

Replaces "challenging" with "tough" and "replicate" with "emulate", emphasizing the difficulty in matching or surpassing something.

not easily reproducible

Uses a more formal tone to convey the difficulty of reproducing results or processes.

presents replication difficulties

Shifts the focus to the difficulties encountered during replication rather than directly stating the challenge.

replication is problematic

Highlights the problematic nature of replication, suggesting potential issues or obstacles.

difficult to achieve consistently

Focuses on the lack of consistent outcomes when attempting to replicate something.

poses a significant replication hurdle

Emphasizes the replication as a hurdle.

replication efforts face obstacles

Focuses on obstacles as the main theme.

demands considerable effort for duplication

Highlights the substantial effort required to achieve duplication.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "challenging to replicate"?

Use "challenging to replicate" when referring to a process, experiment, or result that is difficult to reproduce due to complexities, specific conditions, or inherent variability. It's suitable for contexts where achieving the same outcome is not straightforward.

What are some alternative ways to express "challenging to replicate"?

Alternatives include "difficult to reproduce", "hard to duplicate", or "tough to emulate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "challenging to replicate" differ from "difficult to reproduce"?

"Challenging to replicate" and "difficult to reproduce" are very similar. "Challenging" might subtly emphasize the intellectual or methodological effort required, while "difficult" is a more general term for the level of effort or skill required.

Is "challenging to replicate" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "challenging to replicate" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts. It clearly and professionally conveys the difficulty of reproducing a particular result or process. Consider the specific audience and context when choosing between it and slightly more formal alternatives.