difficult to believe that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to believe that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing skepticism or doubt about a statement or situation. Example: "It is difficult to believe that such a talented musician could go unnoticed for so long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's difficult to believe that exclusion of all Google products was anything other than intentional.

TechCrunch

But it is difficult to believe that morality can properly or plausibly be confined to intimate relations of caring.

SEP

Moreover, he notes, "it's difficult to believe that life as we know it wasn't incorporating sulfur-containing compounds early on".

Science Magazine

It is difficult to believe that I taught anyone anything.

The Economist

It's difficult to believe that that is its future.

The New York Times - Food

We find it difficult to believe that anyone can be genuinely asexual.

Independent

It is difficult to believe that putting was long considered Colsaerts's weakness.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's very difficult to believe that Trayvon is not living," Mr. Martin said, describing his devastation.

The New York Times

It is difficult to believe that either of these sections could have been composed by Hesiod.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But, first of all, it was difficult to believe that we had only two spots.

The New Yorker

It is difficult to believe that all these difficulties will not eventually force political change.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to believe that" to express skepticism when encountering surprising or counter-intuitive information. Always provide context or reasoning to support your disbelief.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to believe that" excessively without providing supporting evidence or context. Overuse can weaken your argument and make your skepticism seem unfounded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to believe that" functions as a modal expression used to convey a speaker's skepticism, doubt, or disbelief regarding a particular statement or situation. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is correct and usable in written English and it's used for expressing skepticism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to believe that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey skepticism or disbelief, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is applicable across various contexts, with prominence in news, science, and encyclopedic sources. While versatile, it is advisable to provide supporting context when expressing doubt to avoid unfounded skepticism. You may consider alternatives such as "hard to accept that" for similar expressions, but always take into account context nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hard to accept that

Emphasizes the difficulty in accepting something as true or valid.

Challenging to trust that

Focuses on the difficulty in placing trust in a particular statement or situation.

I find that hard to swallow

An idiomatic expression indicating strong disbelief or skepticism.

I'm skeptical of that

Directly expresses a lack of conviction or belief.

I doubt that's true

Questions the veracity or accuracy of a statement.

It strains credulity

Suggests that something is so implausible that it tests the limits of belief.

That's a tall tale

Implies that something is exaggerated or fabricated.

I'm not buying that

An informal way to express disbelief or rejection of an idea.

That seems far-fetched

Indicates that something is unlikely or improbable.

I have my doubts about that

Expresses uncertainty or reservations regarding a particular claim.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to believe that" in a sentence?

Use "difficult to believe that" to express disbelief or skepticism about a particular statement or situation. For instance, "It's difficult to believe that he would betray his friends" or "I find it difficult to believe that happened."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to believe that"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to accept that", "challenging to trust that", or "I find that hard to swallow" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hard to believe that" instead of "difficult to believe that"?

Yes, "hard to believe that" is a perfectly acceptable and often interchangeable alternative to "difficult to believe that". Both phrases convey the same meaning of skepticism or disbelief.

What's the difference between "difficult to believe that" and "impossible to believe that"?

"Difficult to believe that" suggests a strong sense of skepticism but allows for the possibility of eventual acceptance, while "impossible to believe that" indicates a complete rejection of the idea as untrue or unrealistic.