complicated to read

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complicated to read" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a text or document that is difficult to understand or interpret due to its complexity. Example: "The legal document was so complicated to read that I had to consult a lawyer for clarification."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It's complicated to read, it isn't very strong, and it hasn't even the merit of sentimental attachment.

The New York Times - Style

This "spellbinding debut mystery" is "embellished by the vivid colonial setting... and enriched by characters too complicated to read at a glance," Marilyn Stasio said here last year.

The New York Times - Books

While classic in design, the whodunit formula is embellished by the vivid colonial setting -- a world of formal military drills on the parade grounds, languorous parties on the veranda and unseen social and political forces at play behind the scenes -- and enriched by characters too complicated to read at a glance.

The New York Times - Books

"What the CNIL ask is very complicated to read, I think, for the final user," he continues.

TechCrunch

After eliminating items considered ambiguous, complicated to read, double-barrelled, and also those with jargon terms, too long or negatively worded, a first item reduction resulted in 142 items drafted in question form.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Harry Potter is not very complicated to read, so don't fret.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

(But the 3-D boards are too complicated to be read easily). While the program is not so versatile or strong as others that are primarily designed to be an opponent, it is not a bad opponent.

The New York Times - Tech

However, sequence read depth varies greatly across the genome, especially when samples are run from 1× to 2× coverage (Beissinger et al. 2013); genome coverage also varies by taxa and SNP sites, and thus it has been complicated to systematically describe the read depth variation along the genome and across taxa.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Adding "that" after "Saturday" would help, but this sentence, too, is complicated and hard to read.

The New York Times

(Apparently a cellphone just isn't a cellphone unless it's accompanied by rules so complicated you have to read them one syllable at a time).

The New York Times - Tech

If the steps seem too complicated for you to read, use a speed mod.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing documents or texts, consider using "complicated to read" to convey that the difficulty arises from the content's structure or language, rather than the reader's ability.

Common error

Avoid using "complicated to read" when simpler terms like "hard to understand" or "unclear" suffice. The phrase is most effective when referring to intrinsic complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complicated to read" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (often a text, document, or concept). According to Ludwig, it describes something that presents challenges in comprehension due to its intricate nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complicated to read" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe texts or concepts that demand significant effort to understand. Ludwig's analysis reveals that the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, and while the phrase follows standard grammar rules is considered correct, it is not overly frequent. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "difficult to understand" or "hard to comprehend" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to understand

Focuses on the general difficulty in understanding, rather than specifically relating to reading.

hard to comprehend

Emphasizes the mental effort required to grasp the meaning.

challenging to decipher

Highlights the act of decoding or unraveling a complex message.

not easily understandable

A more formal way of saying something is difficult to understand.

opaque in its meaning

Suggests that the meaning is obscured or unclear.

inscrutable to read

Highlights the difficulty in understanding due to the way something is written.

arduous to interpret

Emphasizes the laborious nature of understanding the text.

convoluted in its language

Indicates that the complexity arises from the writing style itself.

laborious to peruse

Focuses on the effort required to read through something.

taxing on comprehension

Highlights that understanding something requires a significant amount of mental effort.

FAQs

What does "complicated to read" mean?

The phrase "complicated to read" describes something, usually a text or document, that is difficult to understand or interpret because of its complex structure, language, or content.

How can I use "complicated to read" in a sentence?

You can use "complicated to read" to describe anything from a legal document to a work of literature. For instance, "The contract was so "complicated to read" that I needed a lawyer to explain it."

What can I say instead of "complicated to read"?

Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "hard to comprehend", or "challenging to decipher" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "complicated to read" or "difficult to read"?

While both are correct, "complicated to read" suggests the complexity is inherent in the material itself, whereas "difficult to read" could also refer to external factors, such as poor formatting or small font size.