difficult to collect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to collect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that poses challenges or obstacles in the process of gathering or obtaining it. Example: "The data from remote locations is often difficult to collect due to connectivity issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because an adequate sample may be difficult to collect using a syringe, we tested collection using a sterile sponge.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Hard evidence on this is difficult to collect.

The Guardian

Domestic debt can also be more difficult to collect.

The New York Times

However, parental controls are often expensive and difficult to collect.

The American Journal of Human Genetics

"We're also a big college community, and its difficult to collect those taxes".

The New York Times

"It's very difficult to collect intel and know what's going on.

The Guardian

However, it is often difficult to collect concentration information at each study subject location.

Atmospheric Environment

In many machine learning settings, labeled examples are difficult to collect while unlabeled data are abundant.

Theoretical Computer Science

It is difficult to collect and curate personal data collected by activity-tracking apps.

MIT Technology Review

And the numbers can be off simply because it's difficult to collect exact data mid-conflict.

The Washington Post

Characterizing root-zone soil moisture patterns in large gullies is challenging as relevant datasets are scarce and difficult to collect.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data collection challenges, specify the reasons why something is "difficult to collect". Providing context (e.g., "difficult to collect due to privacy concerns") adds clarity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that data is "difficult to collect" without explaining the specific obstacles. Instead, provide concrete details about the challenges involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to collect" functions as an adjective phrase that describes the level of complexity or challenge involved in the process of gathering or obtaining something. As Ludwig examples show, it is commonly used to describe challenges related to data, samples, or information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to collect" is a commonly used expression to describe challenges or obstacles in the process of gathering or obtaining something, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts such as science, news, and business. While generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to provide specific details about the challenges, rather than making broad generalizations. Alternatives like "hard to gather" or "challenging to obtain" can be used depending on the context. Being clear about why something is "difficult to collect" enhances the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to gather

Focuses on the effort required in the gathering process.

challenging to obtain

Highlights the difficulty in acquiring or securing something.

tough to accumulate

Emphasizes the struggle in building up or amassing something.

problematic to assemble

Suggests issues and complications in putting something together.

cumbersome to compile

Indicates a burdensome or unwieldy process of collecting information.

laborious to extract

Highlights the effort and time-intensive nature of retrieving something.

involves effort to acquire

This alternative emphasizes that it takes considerable effort in order to acquire

presents obstacles to obtain

This alternative is focused on the obstacles faced when trying to obtain

poses challenges for gathering

This alternative is focused on the challenges for gathering

creates hurdles to procure

This alternative emphasizes the creation of hurdles when trying to procure

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to collect" to describe data, samples, or information that poses challenges when gathering. For example, "Due to security restrictions, the data was "difficult to collect"".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to collect"?

Alternatives include "hard to gather", "challenging to obtain", or "tough to accumulate", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "difficult to collect" or "hard to collect"?

"Difficult to collect" and "hard to collect" are often interchangeable, but "difficult" can sound more formal. The best choice depends on the desired tone of your writing.

What makes data "difficult to collect"?

Data might be "difficult to collect" due to various factors, such as privacy concerns, technical limitations, geographical constraints, or resource limitations.