difficult to compare

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to compare" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that two or more things are not easily compared to each other. For example: "The two candidates had similar qualifications, making it difficult to compare their suitability for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Researchers said it was difficult to compare the studies from the United States and Australia.

The New York Times

Their comparatively simple morphology makes it difficult to compare taxa.

University of California, Berkeley

It is difficult to compare these records.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Qualifications are difficult to compare.

The New York Times

Auriemma said it was difficult to compare his UConn teams.

The New York Times - Sports

Managers and players at different clubs, it's difficult to compare".

The Guardian - Sport

It's really difficult to compare generations," argues Westwood.

The Guardian - Sport

It is difficult to compare the Bush and Gore proposals.

The New York Times

It's very difficult to compare them in that way".

The Guardian

"This makes it difficult to compare different algorithms," they say.

MIT Technology Review

This, however, makes it difficult to compare findings.

Ecological Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be specific about what aspects are "difficult to compare". Avoid vague statements; instead, identify the precise factors contributing to the difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to compare" when a comparison is merely complex but still feasible. Reserve the phrase for situations where meaningful comparison is genuinely problematic or impossible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to compare" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, serving to qualify the act of comparing. It indicates a challenge or impediment in making a meaningful comparison. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and acceptable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to compare" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to convey that a straightforward comparison is problematic. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. Its prevalence across diverse fields, including news, science, and academia, underscores its importance in analytical writing. When employing "difficult to compare", ensure you articulate why the comparison is challenging to enhance clarity and credibility. While alternatives exist, such as "hard to compare" or "challenging to compare", the choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. Remember to avoid overstating the difficulty when a comparison is only complex, not impossible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to compare

Replaces "difficult" with "hard", a more informal synonym, slightly altering the tone.

challenging to compare

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging", suggesting the comparison requires significant effort.

not easily comparable

Changes the structure to use the adjective "comparable" with a negation, emphasizing the lack of ease in comparison.

it is problematic to compare

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and adds "it is" at the start making a more explicit statement about the difficulty.

it is tough to compare

Similar to "hard to compare", using "tough" provides a slightly more emphatic tone of difficulty.

comparison is complicated

Simplifies the structure, focusing on the "comparison" itself being "complicated".

these are incomparable

Asserts a complete lack of comparability, a stronger statement than "difficult to compare".

cannot be reasonably compared

Introduces the idea of reasonableness, implying that a comparison would be unfair or inappropriate.

it defies comparison

Uses a more figurative expression, suggesting the subject is beyond the scope of comparison.

there is no basis for comparison

Indicates a fundamental lack of common ground, making any comparison impossible.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to compare" to express that two or more things cannot be easily compared. For example, "It's difficult to compare the effects of these policies because the data collection methods varied significantly."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to compare"?

Alternatives include "hard to compare", "challenging to compare", or "not easily comparable", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to compare"?

Use "difficult to compare" when the differences between the subjects are too significant or the available data is insufficient to draw meaningful comparisons.

What makes something "difficult to compare"?

Factors such as differing methodologies, inconsistent data, or fundamentally different characteristics can make two or more subjects "difficult to compare".