complex to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complex to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult or challenging to comprehend. Example: "The theory presented in the article is quite complex to understand without prior knowledge of the subject."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Instruments got too complex to understand.

The New York Times

The game is too complex to understand after a few weeks of training camp.

The Guardian - Sport

Now they're claiming it's too complex to understand and too costly to adopt.

The New York Times

Has even retail debt investing has become too complex to understand?

The New York Times

In this regard, arguments that the securities were too complex to understand don't bear out.

The New York Times

They argue that we tell the story wrong when we say that Freud used the idea of the Oedipus complex to understand "Hamlet".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

In this manuscript authors analyzed Protein-RNA complexes to understand RNA binding in different organism.

Biology Direct

LIGPLOT analysis was run for the complexes to understand the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction within the docked complexes [ 25].

BioMed Research International

In this study, we analysed the genome-wide binding of Tip60-containing complexes to understand their role in transcription regulation in mESCs.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

"They think it is a very complex thing to understand, but it is very simple".

BBC

FIN 46 has been described as complex, hard to understand, and difficult to apply.

Journal of Accounting Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complex to understand", ensure the context clearly indicates what is considered complex. Provide specific examples or further explanation to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "complex to understand" when describing something that is generally straightforward. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted. Opt for simpler language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complex to understand" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It describes something that presents significant difficulties in comprehension.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complex to understand" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase employed to describe subjects that are intricate and challenging to comprehend. Ludwig AI confirms this. With a neutral register, its usage spans multiple contexts, including science and news media, indicating its versatility. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by providing specific examples to illustrate the complexity. While the phrase is accurate, avoid overuse in simple contexts to maintain the clarity of your writing. You can also use alternative expressions such as "difficult to grasp", "hard to comprehend", or "challenging to comprehend" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging to comprehend

Replaces "understand" with "comprehend" and "complex" with "challenging" maintaining a similar level of formality.

difficult to grasp

Employs a different verb ("grasp") to express the challenge of comprehension.

hard to fathom

Uses a more figurative word ("fathom") to convey difficulty in understanding.

opaque to interpret

Employs "opaque" to highlight the lack of transparency and "interpret" indicating the need for active meaning-making.

beyond comprehension

Expresses that something is impossible to understand.

abstruse to assimilate

Uses more formal and technical vocabulary ("abstruse", "assimilate") suggesting a higher level of complexity.

inscrutable to discern

Employs "inscrutable" to emphasize the mysterious nature and "discern" to highlight the difficulty in perceiving the meaning.

knotty to unravel

Uses a metaphor ("knotty") to describe the complexity and "unravel" to describe the process of understanding.

impenetrable to decode

Employs "impenetrable" to highlight the impossibility of getting through and "decode" implying a need to decipher something.

Byzantine to navigate

Uses "Byzantine" as a reference to something extremely intricate and complex, and "navigate" implying a journey through that complexity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "complex to understand" in simpler terms?

Consider using alternatives like "difficult to grasp", "hard to comprehend", or simply "complicated" depending on the context. For more alternatives, see "challenging to comprehend".

Is "complex to understand" grammatically correct?

Yes, "complex to understand" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It functions as an adjective phrase describing something that is not easy to comprehend.

When is it appropriate to use "complex to understand" in writing?

Use "complex to understand" when you want to emphasize the difficulty someone might have in understanding something, usually because it involves many interconnected parts or abstract concepts. It's appropriate for describing theories, systems, or abstract ideas.

What's the difference between "complex to understand" and "difficult to understand"?

While similar, "complex to understand" implies that the difficulty arises from the intricate nature of something, whereas "difficult to understand" is a more general term that can apply to any reason for lack of comprehension. The first indicates an intricacy while the second indicates generic difficulty.