difficult to connect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to connect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or relationship that is hard to establish or understand. Example: "The concepts presented in the lecture were so abstract that they were difficult to connect with real-world applications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I find it difficult to connect.

The New York Times

He found it difficult to connect with anyone.

The New York Times - Sports

I am finding it difficult to connect the dots".

The New York Times

But it's not difficult to connect the dots.

The Washington Post

Yet even today, it's difficult to connect those early shootings.

The Washington Post

However, it is still difficult to connect small-scale pores in the matrix.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

But there are so many characters it's difficult to connect with any of them.

The Guardian - Film

Establish character – otherwise it is difficult to connect with what is frightening.

The Guardian - Film

People who meet him outside the House of Commons find him difficult to connect with.

The Guardian

It is difficult to connect with the mind of another creature.

The New York Times

It can be difficult to connect biodiversity loss with the somewhat removed problems that it causes.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to connect", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being connected and why the connection is challenging. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to connect" without specifying what elements are proving hard to link. Ambiguity can confuse the reader and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to connect" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the degree of ease or difficulty in establishing a connection or relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and offers numerous examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to connect" is a versatile expression used to indicate challenges in establishing connections or relationships, whether between people, ideas, or objects. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. With a neutral tone suitable for various contexts, it frequently appears in news articles, scientific publications, and academic texts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being connected and why the connection is proving difficult. Alternatives such as "hard to relate to" or "challenging to link" can be used depending on the desired nuance. By understanding its function and communicative purpose, writers can effectively convey the complexities and obstacles in forming links across diverse domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to relate to

Focuses on the challenge of establishing a personal connection or understanding.

challenging to link

Highlights the difficulty in forming a logical or causal association.

struggling to understand

Emphasizes the effort required to achieve comprehension or insight.

unable to associate

Indicates an incapability to make a connection or form a relationship.

finding it hard to grasp

Highlights the difficulty in fully comprehending or internalizing something.

having trouble linking

Stresses the problems encountered when trying to make links or connections.

it's a stretch to connect

Suggests that any connection made would be weak or tenuous.

can't quite reconcile

Emphasizes the failure to bring into agreement or harmony.

difficult to reconcile

Similar to the above, but removes the personal viewpoint.

failing to see the connection

Directly points out the absence of a perceived relationship.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to connect" to describe challenges in understanding concepts, establishing relationships, or linking ideas. For example, "It's difficult to connect the theory with practical application".

What's a more formal alternative to "difficult to connect"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "challenging to link", "hard to relate to", or "problematic to associate". These alternatives offer a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

Is it better to say "difficult to connect with" or "difficult to connect to"?

Both "difficult to connect with" and "difficult to connect to" are grammatically acceptable, but "difficult to connect with" usually refers to establishing a relationship or rapport, while "difficult to connect to" often refers to linking physical or abstract elements. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "difficult to connect" when describing a complex idea?

If you're describing a complex idea, you might use phrases like "hard to relate to", "challenging to link", or "struggling to understand" to convey the difficulty in grasping the concept.