difficult to call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to call" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing uncertainty or ambiguity about a decision or outcome. Example: "The outcome of the game was difficult to call, as both teams played exceptionally well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Difficult to call.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Verdict It's very difficult to call.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's difficult to call someone the greatest," Khannouchi said modestly.

The New York Times - Sports

League Two looks as difficult to call as the Championship.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's always difficult to call the 'top' of the market.

The Guardian - Business

"The first penalty wasn't difficult to call," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

It would be difficult to call me a Grinch".

The New York Times

It was difficult to call there and other places where there had been antigovernment protests.

The New York Times

The closeness of the three main parties now makes it much more difficult to call.

The Guardian

The show can be funny, but it would be difficult to call it a comedy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Difficult to call but probably Jamie Ward, if only for his goal at Forest.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to call" when you want to express that a prediction or decision is uncertain and relies on several factors.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to call" to describe physical actions or tasks. It is best used for uncertain outcomes or decisions, not for describing the complexity of a task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to call" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. According to Ludwig AI, this construction expresses uncertainty or ambiguity about a future event, decision, or outcome. It suggests that predicting or determining the result is challenging.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sport

25%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to call" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey uncertainty or ambiguity regarding an outcome or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's applicable across various contexts, including news, sports, and scientific discussions. While versatile, it's crucial to use it appropriately, primarily for situations where prediction or judgment is challenging, and not for describing the difficulty of concrete tasks. Alternatives such as "hard to predict" or "challenging to determine" can offer subtle variations in meaning. With its high frequency and authoritative sources, mastering the use of "difficult to call" will enhance your communication skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to predict

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "call" with "predict", focusing on the act of forecasting.

challenging to determine

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "call" with "determine", emphasizing the effort required to reach a conclusion.

tough to judge

Replaces "difficult" with "tough" and "call" with "judge", highlighting the subjective assessment aspect.

uncertain to forecast

Uses "uncertain" in place of "difficult" and "forecast" instead of "call", underlining the unpredictability of the situation.

not easy to foresee

Emphasizes the lack of ease in anticipating an outcome, using "foresee" as a replacement for "call".

it's anybody's guess

An idiomatic alternative that conveys the impossibility of predicting the outcome.

the outcome is unclear

Focuses on the lack of clarity surrounding the result or decision.

it remains to be seen

Suggests that the result is still pending and cannot be determined at present.

the situation is ambiguous

Highlights the ambiguity and lack of clear direction in the current circumstances.

a toss-up

An informal term indicating an equal chance of either outcome occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to call" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to call" to express uncertainty about an outcome or decision. For example, "The election result is "difficult to call" because the polls are so close".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to call"?

Some alternatives include "hard to predict", "challenging to determine", or "tough to judge", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it's difficult calling" instead of "difficult to call"?

No, "it's difficult calling" is grammatically incorrect in this context. The correct form is ""difficult to call"", which uses the infinitive form of the verb.

What's the difference between "difficult to call" and "hard to say"?

"Difficult to call" usually refers to a situation where the outcome is uncertain or hard to predict, while "hard to say" can also refer to something that is literally difficult to articulate.