difficult to comply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to comply" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing rules, regulations, or requests that are challenging to follow or adhere to. Example: "The new regulations are so complex that they are often considered difficult to comply with by many businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

"But the law gets very difficult to comply with.

The New York Times

"Federal law makes it very difficult to comply with providing in-woods housing," he said.

The New York Times

Now, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg cynically proposes to make it more difficult to comply with the statute's prior notice requirements.

The New York Times

This could include vulnerable claimants with mental health or social functioning problems, who find it difficult to comply with directions".

The Guardian

Fishers need financial help adapting to the changing regulatory environment, he said, because without that support, "it would be very difficult to comply".

The New York Times

They will be all the more difficult to comply with because of bizarre rules meaning NGOs campaigning together could be jointly liable for each other's costs.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

The GPs described several barriers to taking on the role of broker and referring to mental health professionals including bureaucracy, unawareness of resources, liaison with other health care professionals and perceptions of patient adherence: [It is difficult] to comply with all the paperwork to go with mental health plans and then [choosing] which items.

BMC Medical Education

Some participants thought that the legislation was open to interpretation; thus making it difficult to always comply.

BMC Veterinary Research

But, Mr. Varone said, architects, engineers and building owners fear it will be very difficult for owners to comply with the law.

The New York Times

Unless the character of Mr. Hussein's government changes significantly, it will be difficult for Iraq to comply with intrusive inspections, giving the Bush administration the provocation it is seeking.

The New York Times

It makes it very difficult for companies to comply because they don't have enough money to have experts in all those areas.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to comply" to express that regulations might require significant changes to existing processes or behaviors.

Common error

Don't use "difficult to comply" when "impossible to comply" is more appropriate. "Difficult" implies a challenge, while "impossible" indicates a complete barrier. Ensure your word choice accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to comply" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying an implied or stated noun. It describes something (e.g., rules, regulations, requests) as presenting a challenge in terms of adherence or fulfillment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is accurate and usable in written english.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to comply" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes the challenging nature of adhering to rules, regulations, or requests. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is accurate and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media and scientific contexts and carries a neutral to professional tone. While alternatives exist, such as "hard to adhere to" or "challenging to conform to", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, be mindful of accurately representing the level of difficulty; avoid overstating the impossibility if a challenge is merely present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to adhere to

Emphasizes the challenge in sticking to or maintaining adherence to something.

challenging to conform to

Highlights the difficulty in aligning with or meeting certain standards.

onerous to fulfill

Focuses on the burdensome nature of completing or satisfying a requirement.

troublesome to observe

Suggests that following or watching something is problematic.

not easy to abide by

Indicates a lack of simplicity in respecting or acting in accordance with something.

inconvenient to follow

Highlights the lack of convenience in pursuing or adhering to some specific thing.

complex to meet

Emphasizes how intricate and complicated is the act of satisfying a requirement.

impractical to implement

Stresses the unfeasibility of putting a measure or system into practice.

unwieldy to manage

Highlights the difficult to control or handle situation when attempting to comply with something.

prohibitive to satisfy

Signifies the restrictions or impediments involved in fulfilling obligations.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to comply" to describe rules, regulations, or requests that are challenging to follow. For example, "The new regulations are so complex that they are often considered "difficult to comply" with by many businesses."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to comply"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to adhere to", "challenging to conform to", or "onerous to fulfill" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "impossible to comply" instead of "difficult to comply"?

"Difficult to comply" implies a significant challenge, while "impossible to comply" indicates that it is entirely unfeasible to meet the requirements. Choose "impossible" when there is no viable way to adhere to the rule or regulation.

Is "difficult to comply with" grammatically correct?

While "difficult to comply" is perfectly acceptable, you can also use "difficult to comply with" if you want to explicitly state what is being complied with. Both forms are grammatically sound, but the former is more concise.