difficult expression

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult expression" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It could be used when describing a particular phrase or saying that is hard to understand or interpret. An example could be, "The lawyer's argument was filled with many difficult expressions, making it challenging for the jury to follow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That is in itself a difficult expression, however, especially if used on purpose by those who oppose the modern European school and, for whatever reason, wish to stop it from going ahead.

Columbia University

"And that difficult choice," he concludes, almost triumphantly, "is sometimes finding a way to grapple with a difficult expression of an idea using one's heart and one's courage". Later, out of mild curiosity, I tap these words of Champion's into Google Books and press "search".

The Guardian - Tech

Mai pen rai is often a difficult expression to translate.

Language Testing in Asia

We successfully expressed P14K through genetic modifications according to N-end rule and analyzed the mechanism for its difficult expression.

BMC Biotechnology

The strategy used for P14K expression in this study may be useful for the heterologous expression of other difficult expression proteins.

BMC Biotechnology

Furthermore, these strategies, which promote the over-expression of the instable P14K in E. coli, might also be helpful for the heterologous expression of other difficult expression proteins.

BMC Biotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The original IPDE is written in relatively simple language and difficult expressions have been avoided.

BMC Psychiatry

Reasons for false negative errors included logical relations that were not modeled, and grammatically difficult expressions.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Footnote explains the difficult American expression.

The New Yorker

Although studying changes in PP5 activity is difficult, the expression of PP5 in mammalian cells can be suppressed by treatment with antisense oligonucleotides or small double stranded molecules of RNA.

Methods in Enzymology

Although deriving a closed-form result for (31) seems difficult, the expression above can be evaluated numerically, which is more efficient than running Monte Carlo simulations.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "difficult expression", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the expression difficult: is it the complexity of the concept, the unusual wording, or the potential for misinterpretation?

Common error

Avoid simply labeling something a "difficult expression" without providing specific details. Explain why it's difficult. For example, instead of saying 'The concept is a difficult expression', specify 'The concept, expressed through complex jargon, is a difficult expression to grasp'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult expression" typically functions as a noun phrase, where "difficult" modifies the noun "expression". It describes a term or phrase that presents challenges in comprehension or articulation. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, ranging from legal documents to scientific concepts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult expression" is a valid and useful term for describing language that is challenging to understand or articulate. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically correct. While not an extremely common phrase, it appears consistently in diverse contexts such as science, news, and academia. When using "difficult expression", it is helpful to provide context or explain why the expression is difficult. Consider alternatives like ""challenging phrase"" or ""complex term"" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging phrase

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the expression.

complex term

Substitutes "expression" with "term", focusing on the intricate nature of the word or phrase.

complicated wording

Replaces "expression" with "wording", highlighting the complexity of the phrasing used.

hard to articulate

Shifts the focus from the expression itself to the difficulty in voicing or conveying it.

tricky phrasing

Uses "tricky" to convey the subtle difficulty in understanding or using the expression.

problematic formulation

Emphasizes the issues or challenges associated with the way something is expressed.

opaque language

Highlights the lack of transparency and clarity in the language used.

arcane expression

Suggests that the expression is obscure and known only to a few.

abstruse phrase

Indicates that the phrase is hard to understand due to its complexity and abstract nature.

incomprehensible term

Suggests the term is impossible to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult expression" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult expression" to describe a phrase or term that is hard to understand or interpret. For example: "The legal document contained several "difficult expressions", making it hard to comprehend".

What are some alternatives to "difficult expression"?

Alternatives include "challenging phrase", "complex term", or "complicated wording". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult expression" or "hard to understand expression"?

"Difficult expression" is more concise and grammatically correct. "Hard to understand expression" is also acceptable but can be rephrased for better flow. Consider "tricky phrasing" or "opaque language".

What makes an expression "difficult"?

An expression can be "difficult" due to its complexity, abstract nature, use of jargon, or potential for misinterpretation. The context determines the specific reason for the difficulty.