confusing to read

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'confusing to read' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you wish to describe something written that is difficult to understand. For example: "The legal document was filled with long, technical language, making it quite confusing to read."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

London producer Sh m's name is confusing to read and that reminded me a lot of the confusion at the beginning of the thirteenth Pokemon movie.

Vice

But these dividers also make the space confusing to read.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In places, the switching between viewpoints got a little hazy and the two narrative voices sounded too similar to the point where it was confusing to read, but other than that the double viewpoint really worked.

The Guardian

Statements explaining benefits, for example, can be confusing to read.

The New York Times

Because it can be confusing to read about a site for bloggers named "Blogger", most people still refer to it by the name in the platform's URL: blogspot.

The Economist

If you're trying to paste some ridiculously long Web address where it would be confusing to read (or impossible to fit, as on Twitter), visit a site like Tinyurl.com or Bit.ly.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Disabled and older people and others with support needs may therefore have been confused to read academic and activist Peter Beresford's recent piece on personal budgets.

The Guardian

(Honestly, we thought it'd be much worse given the hype. What do YOU think?) Click over to Dazed & Confused to read more.

Huffington Post

The language in this field is confusing to say the least - reading that "phthalates may promote female puberty by increasing kisspeptin activity" or that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane can have dangerous effects doesn't really help in understanding what the risks are.

The Guardian

If you don't, your answer may be confusing to someone who reads it (and, if you're doing this for schoolwork, you may lose points).

WikiHow

It confuses them to read, as the New Israel Fund reports on its Web site, that "more than 10 years ago, the ultra-Orthodox community asked Israel's public bus company, Egged, to provide segregated buses in their neighborhoods.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a document as "confusing to read", be specific about what aspects of the writing contribute to the confusion. For example, mention jargon, complex sentence structure, or unclear organization.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "confusing to read" without providing any context or specific examples. Vague statements lack helpful feedback. Instead, pinpoint the elements contributing to the difficulty, such as technical terminology or ambiguous phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confusing to read" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something possesses the characteristic of being difficult to understand through reading. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe written material that causes confusion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

23%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confusing to read" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase used to describe written material that is difficult to understand. Ludwig AI also confirms that the expression is suitable for general usage. It functions as an adjective phrase and is widely seen in neutral contexts like news, science, and academic publications. When using this phrase, be specific about the causes of confusion to offer practical feedback. Related phrases include "hard to understand when reading" and "difficult to comprehend in writing", offering varied ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to understand when reading

Focuses on the difficulty in understanding the text during the act of reading.

difficult to comprehend in writing

Emphasizes the struggle to grasp the meaning of written material.

unclear in its written form

Highlights the lack of clarity in the way something is written.

ambiguous in writing

Focuses on the presence of multiple possible interpretations in the written text.

obscure in its meaning when read

Stresses that the meaning is hidden or not easily apparent when reading.

complicated to understand when reading

Highlights the complexity of the text which makes it harder to grasp.

poorly written and hard to follow

Attributes the confusion to poor writing quality.

difficult to decipher in writing

Emphasizes the challenge in interpreting the written text.

not easy to follow when reading

Focuses on the reader's struggle to maintain comprehension.

incomprehensible in its written presentation

Highlights the inability to understand the material due to its presentation.

FAQs

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

You can use "confusing to read" to describe any written material that is difficult to understand. For example, "The contract was so long and complex, it was extremely confusing to read".

What are some alternatives to saying "confusing to read"?

Alternatives include "hard to understand when reading", "difficult to comprehend in writing", or "unclear in its written form", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes something "confusing to read"?

Elements that can make something "confusing to read" include complex sentence structures, technical jargon, ambiguous language, poor organization, and inconsistencies in terminology.

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

Both "confusing to read" and "difficult to read" are acceptable, but "confusing to read" suggests that the problem lies in the content or structure of the writing, while "difficult to read" might imply that the reader has some challenges or lack of expertise.