difficult to conclude

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to conclude" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that reaching a conclusion on a particular matter is challenging or complicated. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, it remains difficult to conclude whether the theory holds true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It would be difficult to conclude otherwise.

The New York Times - Sports

But global treaties are becoming increasingly difficult to conclude.

The New York Times

It is difficult to conclude that it has worked well.

The Economist

"Yet it is difficult to conclude that the letter constitutes grounds for sanctions".

The New York Times

The negotiations on tax cuts have become perhaps the most difficult to conclude.

The New York Times

He added, "It is not difficult to conclude that this was criminal behavior".

The New York Times

It is not difficult to conclude that it is only to be known experientially.

The Guardian

It is difficult to conclude that this is anything but racism.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This in turn makes it difficult to conclude that DfID is doing all it can to maximise impact".

The Guardian

If non-disclosure is a fact it would be difficult to conclude other than it was withheld deliberately".

The Guardian

But several executives who have knowledge of the process said that complications had made those negotiations difficult to conclude.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "difficult to conclude" with stronger alternatives like "impossible to determine" or "remains uncertain" if the situation warrants a more definitive expression of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to conclude" when the evidence strongly suggests a particular conclusion. Overusing this phrase can weaken your argument and create unnecessary ambiguity. If available data leans one way, acknowledge that while remaining cautious about definitive claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to conclude" primarily functions as a qualifier, indicating the degree of certainty or ease associated with forming a conclusion. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, signifying that reaching a conclusion on a particular matter is challenging or complicated. It adds nuance to statements, acknowledging uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to conclude" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey uncertainty or challenges in reaching a definitive conclusion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Analysis of usage patterns reveals that the phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide context for why the conclusion is challenging and to avoid overstating uncertainty when evidence suggests otherwise. Consider related phrases like "hard to determine" or "challenging to ascertain" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Overall, "difficult to conclude" is a valuable tool for expressing nuanced judgments and acknowledging the complexities inherent in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to determine

Replaces "difficult" with "hard", a more informal synonym, while maintaining the core meaning of struggling to reach a conclusion.

challenging to ascertain

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "conclude" with "ascertain", implying a demanding process of finding something out for certain.

not easy to deduce

Uses a negative construction ("not easy") and replaces "conclude" with "deduce", emphasizing the effort required to infer a conclusion.

problematic to infer

Emphasizes the potential issues or obstacles in drawing a conclusion, rather than just the difficulty.

remains uncertain

Shifts the focus to the state of uncertainty, rather than the act of concluding, suggesting a lack of clarity.

elusive to determine

Highlights the evasive or hard-to-grasp nature of the conclusion, making it challenging to pin down.

a challenge to decide

Frames the act of concluding as a "challenge", focusing on the effort and skill needed to reach a decision.

hard to come to a decision

Replaces "conclude" with the more verbose "come to a decision", emphasizing the process of reaching a resolution.

difficult to be certain

Focuses on the difficulty of achieving certainty, implying that absolute proof or confirmation is lacking.

not possible to judge

Indicates that it is not currently within someone's ability to assess a particular thing.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to conclude" to express uncertainty or challenges in reaching a definitive judgment. For instance, "After analyzing the data, it is "difficult to conclude" whether the intervention was effective."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to conclude"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "hard to determine", "challenging to ascertain", or "not easy to deduce" as alternatives to "difficult to conclude".

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficult to conclude"?

Yes, "difficult to conclude" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English. It follows standard English sentence structure and is widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts.

When should I use "difficult to conclude" versus "impossible to conclude"?

"Difficult to conclude" suggests that a conclusion is challenging to reach but not necessarily impossible. "Impossible to conclude", on the other hand, implies that reaching a conclusion is entirely unattainable given the available information. Choose the phrase that best reflects the degree of certainty or uncertainty in your assessment.