difficult to decipher record

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to decipher record" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a record or document that is hard to read or understand, often due to poor handwriting, unclear language, or complex information. Example: "The historian struggled to make sense of the difficult to decipher record from the 18th century."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

She is sweet and overwhelmingly polite, and the request for the stenographer comes not from vanity but a concern that her very soft, accented voice is too difficult to decipher when recorded.

The Guardian - Arts

This massive and global extinction event left only 30 living xenarthran species whose paleontological origins and phylogenetic relationships are very difficult to decipher from the available fossil record [ 7], although progresses have recently been made for understanding the origin of some groups of living armadillos [ 20].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The study concludes that many payments exceeding $100 were made but that the records were difficult to decipher and all but impossible for individuals in either state to interpret.

The New York Times

Further, the sequence of dispersal events has been difficult to decipher, stemming from incompleteness of the fossil record.

BMC Biology

According to a partial transcript of the recorded phone conversation — the tape is distorted and difficult to decipher — Mr. Chiacchia can be heard dismissing H.I.V. as a "minor inconvenience".

The New York Times - Sports

Making matters worse, criminal records are plagued by "inadequacies in accuracy and completeness," making them "difficult to decipher" by the Department of Justice's own estimat​ion.

Vice

4. Buzz - Louie, Louie's lyrics were so difficult to decipher that the FBI conducted a 31-month investigation, concluding they were, "unable to interpret any of the wording in the record". Despite the government's failure to declare the record obscene, the song was banned by numerous radio stations.

Forbes

DORY is different and difficult to decipher.

The New York Times

It becomes difficult to decipher what style and dressy is".

The New York Times

The signing is rapid and difficult to decipher.

The New York Times

The Marni show notes were difficult to decipher.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical documents or complex data, using "difficult to decipher record" can effectively convey the challenge of understanding the information. Provide context to why the record is difficult to understand, such as age, language, or damage.

Common error

Avoid assuming the difficulty in deciphering is solely due to handwriting. Complex language, code, or intentional obfuscation may also be factors. Ensure your description accurately reflects the source of the challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to decipher record" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "record". It describes a quality of the record, specifically its impenetrability to understanding. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to decipher record" is grammatically correct and describes a record that is challenging to understand, as stated by Ludwig. Although examples are missing, it serves to highlight the effort needed to interpret the record's contents. Related phrases include "hard-to-interpret record" and "unclear record". Best practice includes providing context about why a record is "difficult to decipher", while a common mistake is to only assume that this difficulty is always caused by handwriting. Therefore, the phrase is applicable across various contexts, with a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undecipherable record

A more emphatic way of saying "difficult to decipher," stressing the impossibility of understanding.

hard-to-interpret record

Replaces "difficult to decipher" with a more straightforward synonym, maintaining the core meaning.

unclear record

Simplifies the phrasing to emphasize a lack of clarity in the record.

hard to make sense of record

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the struggle in understanding the record.

illegible record

Focuses on the physical impossibility of reading the record due to poor writing or damage.

incomprehensible record

Highlights the inability to understand the record's content.

obscure record

Emphasizes the hidden or vague nature of the record.

opaque record

Uses a metaphor to describe the record as being non-transparent or hard to see through, figuratively.

cryptic record

Suggests the record is intentionally mysterious or encoded.

impenetrable record

Highlights the difficulty in accessing the meaning or understanding of the record.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to decipher record" in a sentence?

You might say, "The historian struggled with the "difficult to decipher record" to uncover the truth about the past".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to decipher record"?

Consider using phrases like "hard to interpret record", "unclear record", or "illegible record" depending on the specific reason for the difficulty.

Is it correct to say "a record difficult to decipher"?

While grammatically understandable, ""difficult to decipher record"" is the more natural and commonly used phrasing.

What makes a record "difficult to decipher"?

Several factors can contribute, including poor handwriting, archaic language, damage to the document, or the use of codes and ciphers.