difficult to come by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to come by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to describe when something is hard to obtain, find, or acquire. For example, "Antique books can be difficult to come by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Solutions have been difficult to come by.

The New York Times - Sports

Energy, too, is difficult to come by.

Harvard Business Review

Again, hard and fast figures are difficult to come by.

The Economist

Real outdoor space, though, is difficult to come by.

The New York Times

Indisputable information is difficult to come by in Libya.

The New Yorker

Arguments were rife, agreements difficult to come by.

Independent

That such answers are difficult to come by.

The Economist

Yet leads have been difficult to come by.

The New York Times

Government statistics have been difficult to come by.

The New York Times

Elsewhere, easy answers seemed equally difficult to come by.

The New York Times

Fulham had found them difficult to come by last season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of the phrase in close proximity within your writing. If you find yourself using it repeatedly, consider using synonyms like "scarce", "rare", or "hard to find" to add variety.

Common error

Ensure that when you state something is "difficult to come by", it is genuinely challenging to obtain. Avoid using it for things that are merely inconvenient or require minimal effort, as this can diminish the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to come by" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is not easily obtainable. Ludwig AI confirms this is a valid English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to come by" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is not easily obtained. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and business. When using this phrase, consider the specific reason for the scarcity and avoid overuse. Alternatives like "scarce", "hard to find", or "in short supply" can add variety to your writing. Ensure that your usage accurately reflects the actual level of difficulty in obtaining the item or information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to find

Focuses on the act of locating something that is scarce or well-hidden.

scarce

Emphasizes the limited availability of something.

in short supply

Highlights the limited quantity of something available.

not easily obtained

Focuses on the effort and challenges involved in acquiring something.

challenging to acquire

Emphasizes the difficulty and skills needed to obtain something.

rare

Indicates the infrequency of something's occurrence or availability.

uncommon

Suggests that something is not frequently encountered.

not readily available

Highlights the lack of immediate accessibility.

like hen's teeth

An idiomatic expression indicating extreme rarity.

thin on the ground

An idiomatic expression indicating scarcity in a particular area.

FAQs

What does "difficult to come by" mean?

The phrase "difficult to come by" means something is not easy to find, obtain, or acquire. It suggests that effort, resources, or luck may be needed to get it.

How can I use "difficult to come by" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to come by" to describe anything scarce or hard to obtain. For example, "Accurate data on bike thefts are "difficult to come by"" or "Tickets to the event were "difficult to come by"".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to come by"?

Alternatives to "difficult to come by" include "hard to find", "scarce", "in short supply", or "not readily available".

Is it ever incorrect to use "difficult to come by"?

While grammatically correct, using "difficult to come by" may be inappropriate if the item or information in question is actually easily accessible. Overusing it or using it in the wrong context could diminish its impact.