difficult to demarcate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to demarcate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing concepts, boundaries, or distinctions that are not easily defined or separated. Example: "The line between art and commerce can be difficult to demarcate, leading to debates about the true nature of artistic expression."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Nonetheless, he argued that it was difficult to demarcate the elements on the scale, probably because in his view, everything was constantly coming and becoming.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In this kind of situation i.e., when a support entity is seen as a "shell" that protects the development community [8] or is legally "guarding the commons" [11] the boundary between the FLOSS community and FLOSS support entity becomes analytically slightly more difficult to demarcate separately.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

However, when viewed through a 'collaborative reproduction' lens, it is more difficult to demarcate with certainty who should/not be included on such a register, not least as there is a dearth of research on this issue (Blyth et al. 2012).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Consequently, it can be difficult to demarcate some borders in Nissl-stained sections (Carmichael and Price 1994).

Cerebral Cortex

GBMs are infiltrative tumors that usually spread through normal brain tissue, and it is difficult to demarcate glioma-affected areas from normal brain tissue.

BioMed Research International

Finally, it will often be difficult to demarcate "nonregulatory" science, given the extent to which academic scientists are participants or are at least partisans in regulatory disputes.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It is difficult to clearly demarcate psychoses from the class of less-severe mental disorders known as psychoneuroses (commonly called neuroses) because a neurosis may be so severe, disabling, or disorganizing in its effects that it actually constitutes a psychosis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Another limitation of the tool is that it was difficult to formulate clear-cut criteria to demarcate high and low quality.

BMC Health Services Research

Like piddling dogs, the rich have to demarcate their area.

The Guardian - Travel

We didn't use words to demarcate the years.

The Guardian - Film

Do we have the wisdom to demarcate its chapters?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to demarcate" when you want to emphasize the inherent challenge in establishing clear boundaries or distinctions between concepts, ideas, or physical spaces. For example: "It is difficult to demarcate the precise moment when a trend becomes a norm."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to demarcate" in everyday situations where simpler terms like "hard to define" or "difficult to distinguish" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. For example, instead of saying "It's difficult to demarcate the colors in this painting", try "It's hard to distinguish the colors in this painting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to demarcate" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or concept by expressing the challenge in clearly defining or establishing its boundaries. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to demarcate" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the challenge of establishing clear boundaries or distinctions. While not incorrect, according to Ludwig AI, its usage is best suited for formal or scientific contexts where precision is valued. More informal alternatives, like "hard to distinguish" or "not easy to define", may be more appropriate for everyday language. Authoritative sources like Encyclopedia Britannica and The New York Times exemplify its use in describing complex or ambiguous concepts. Consider your audience and the level of formality desired when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to distinguish

Focuses on the challenge of seeing a clear difference.

challenging to differentiate

Emphasizes the complexity in telling things apart.

not easy to define

Highlights the difficulty in providing a precise definition.

hard to delineate

Similar to demarcate, but can apply to outlines or boundaries.

difficult to separate

Highlights the entanglement or interconnectedness making distinction hard.

blurring the lines

Figurative way of expressing indistinct boundaries.

tough to draw a line

Informal way to say establishing a boundary is challenging.

indistinct boundary

Highlights the result of unclear demarcation rather than the act.

vague distinction

Focuses on lack of clarity in the differentiation.

ambiguous boundary

Implies that the boundary is open to multiple interpretations.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to demarcate" when discussing situations where establishing clear boundaries or distinctions is challenging. For instance, "It is often "difficult to demarcate" the line between artistic inspiration and plagiarism".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to demarcate"?

Alternatives include "hard to distinguish", "challenging to differentiate", or "not easy to define", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "difficult to demarcate" or "difficult to delineate"?

Both "demarcate" and "delineate" are similar, but "demarcate" is often used when referring to setting boundaries or limits, while "delineate" focuses more on outlining or describing in detail. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, difficult to delineate

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to demarcate" in writing?

"Difficult to demarcate" is appropriate in formal writing or when discussing complex concepts where precise boundaries are hard to establish. Using the phrase in informal conversation might come off as pedantic.