difficult to deduce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to deduce" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or information that is hard to infer or conclude from available evidence. Example: "The results of the experiment were complex, making it difficult to deduce the underlying cause of the observed phenomena."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The reason is not difficult to deduce.

Independent

It was difficult to deduce if he was, in essence, angel or devil.

The New York Times

Silk protein molecules are long, and it is difficult to deduce the DNA that produces them.

The New York Times

Compared to plant communities, the trajectories and processes of fungal community development are difficult to deduce.

Fungal Ecology

It is often difficult to deduce which way a judge is leaning based solely on the questioning of lawyers.

The New York Times - Sports

Müller reveals his greatest interpretive triumph: "The presence of a negative transference situation was not difficult to deduce from the following sequence: 'Ro... Pi... le... me... lo...'.

The Guardian

And again, with a new chair, it's even more difficult to deduce exactly how hard the Fed might step — even slam — on the brakes.

The Washington Post

But in the Donbas war, both sides mostly use the same weaponry, making it difficult to deduce which side attacked the health-care facilities.

The Washington Post

Gregarious behaviour is difficult to deduce; however small species found associated in the same assemblage localities, such as Masiakasaurus33 and Limusaurus14, suggest that they might have lived together.

Nature

Precipitation is more difficult to deduce from physiognomic characters because the plant responds to the relative moisture conditions, not absolute precipitation as might be measured by a rain gauge or fog trap.

University of California, Berkeley

In view of this fact, it is not difficult to deduce that the predictions should be much more reliable if the predictions are made directly based on the flight spectrum crack growth data.

International Journal of Fatigue

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to deduce", ensure that the context provides sufficient background information to understand why the deduction is challenging. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to deduce" when the information is simply not available, rather than being inherently hard to infer. Instead, consider phrases like "impossible to know" or "undetermined".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to deduce" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig examples show it describes something that's not straightforward to infer or conclude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to deduce" is a versatile expression employed to convey the challenge of drawing conclusions from available information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various writing contexts. It's particularly prevalent in scientific and journalistic writing, where nuanced expression is key. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "hard to infer" or "challenging to ascertain", "difficult to deduce" retains its value due to its precise connotation of a complex inferential process. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly explains the source of the difficulty to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to infer

Emphasizes the challenge in drawing a conclusion from indirect evidence.

challenging to ascertain

Highlights the effort required to establish something with certainty.

not easy to determine

Directly states the lack of ease in finding something out.

tough to figure out

Suggests a problem-solving approach where the answer is elusive.

obscure to understand

Focuses on the lack of clarity preventing comprehension.

complicated to unravel

Implies that something is entangled and requires careful analysis.

elusive to grasp

Highlights the difficulty in capturing or understanding something subtle.

unclear to discern

Suggests that a distinction or identification is hard to make.

subtle to identify

Emphasizes the delicate nature of what needs to be found.

problematic to comprehend

Indicates fundamental issues interfering with understanding.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult to deduce" to describe situations where understanding or inferring something is challenging due to complexity or lack of clear evidence. For example: "The motive behind his actions was "difficult to deduce" from the available information".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to deduce"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to infer", "challenging to ascertain", or "not easy to determine" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "hard to deduce" or "difficult to deduce"?

Both "hard to deduce" and "difficult to deduce" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference and the desired tone of your writing. "Difficult" may sound slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "difficult to deduce" and "impossible to deduce"?

"Difficult to deduce" suggests that something is challenging to infer but potentially possible with enough effort or information. "Impossible to deduce", on the other hand, indicates that it's fundamentally unattainable to reach a conclusion based on the available evidence.