cumbersome to interpret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cumbersome to interpret" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult or awkward to understand or analyze. Example: "The legal document was cumbersome to interpret, leading to confusion among the parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In principle, method 3 allowed us to flexibly model individual exposure patterns over time; however, relating outcome to many exposure features may become cumbersome to interpret (e.g., individual-level quadratic trends).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

(This makes it somewhat cumbersome to read).

The New Yorker

To summarize, cluster analysis is a way of grouping cases of data based on the similarity of responses to several variables, and is useful mainly in situations where there are hundreds of people and lots of variables, which would become very cumbersome and almost impossible to interpret.

Human Resources for Health

Manual check and comparison of biochemical test results are cumbersome and the results are sometimes hard to interpret, especially if the number of isolates is large.

Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

"When touch technology came in, mobile browsers had to build a layer to interpret HTML forms, which were never conceived for use in touch technology, resulting in a cumbersome experience".

TechCrunch

Essentially, formal quality of life assessment in clinical trials is considered not only cumbersome, complex and costly but is also plagued by several unresolved methodological and statistical problems that make it difficult to interpret results.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

How to interpret text?

The New York Times

We want you to interpret".

The New Yorker

To interpret the mortality statistics?

Independent

G. H. Willett: Hard to interpret?

The Guardian

One hesitates to try to interpret this.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data analysis or research findings, use "cumbersome to interpret" to succinctly convey that the results are complex and require careful consideration.

Common error

Reserve "cumbersome to interpret" for situations where genuine complexity exists. Using it for straightforward information can make your writing sound unnecessarily pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cumbersome to interpret" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a purpose infinitive. This combination typically modifies a noun or situation, indicating that something possesses the quality of being awkward or difficult specifically for the purpose of interpretation. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cumbersome to interpret" is a valid and useful expression for indicating that something is difficult to understand or analyze due to its complexity. Ludwig highlights that it's most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a formal to neutral register. While grammatically sound, it's advisable to reserve it for situations where the complexity genuinely warrants such a description. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase can be replaced with "difficult to understand" or "hard to decipher" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to understand

Replaces "cumbersome" with a more direct synonym for difficulty.

hard to decipher

Emphasizes the challenge of decoding or understanding something complex.

challenging to comprehend

Highlights the mental effort required to grasp the meaning.

complex to analyze

Focuses on the intricate nature of the subject making analysis difficult.

not easy to make sense of

Uses a more informal tone to convey the difficulty in understanding.

opaque to understanding

Indicates that something is obscure and blocks comprehension.

involved to figure out

Highlights the level of detail and effort needed for interpretation.

laborious to grasp

Suggests that significant effort is required to understand.

demanding to construe

Emphasizes the high level of skill required for correct interpretation.

knotty to unravel

Emphasizes the problem requires a process of clarification before it can be interpreted.

FAQs

What does "cumbersome to interpret" mean?

It means something is difficult or awkward to understand due to its complexity or presentation. Think of it as being challenging to analyze or make sense of.

How can I use "cumbersome to interpret" in a sentence?

You might say, "The dataset was so large that it was "cumbersome to interpret" without specialized software" or "The legal jargon made the contract "cumbersome to interpret" for the average person".

What are some alternatives to "cumbersome to interpret"?

Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "hard to decipher", or "complex to analyze". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "cumbersome to interpret" formal or informal?

It leans towards the formal side but is appropriate in many contexts. For more casual settings, you might prefer "not easy to understand" or a similar phrase.