difficult to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to determine" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe something that is not easily discovered or understood. For example, "The effects of the new policy were difficult to determine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The answers are difficult to determine.

The New York Times - Books

The truth was difficult to determine.

The Guardian

That has been difficult to determine".

The New York Times

The prevalence is difficult to determine.

Actas Urológicas Españolas

It is difficult to determine what, precisely, the labs do.

The New York Times

It can be difficult to determine refugees' ages.

The New Yorker

He said that it was difficult to determine.

The New Yorker

But officials said the number would be difficult to determine.

The New York Times

The cause of the decrease is difficult to determine.

The New Yorker

The value, Barley added, "is very difficult to determine.

The Guardian

The reasons for that are difficult to determine.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "difficult to determine" with evidence or reasoning to support the assertion of uncertainty. This adds credibility to your statement and invites further exploration.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to determine" as a placeholder for actual investigation or analysis. Provide evidence or logical reasoning to support why something is challenging to determine, rather than simply stating it as a conclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to determine" functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun, describing a quality or characteristic of something that is challenging to ascertain or establish. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase is frequently used to express uncertainty or complexity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to determine" serves as an adjectival phrase used to express uncertainty or challenges in ascertaining something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. This phrase is prevalent across various contexts, including News & Media and scientific publications. While the phrase is considered neutral in tone, it's important to provide justification or evidence to support its use. Consider alternatives like "hard to pinpoint", "troublesome to ascertain", or "not easily determined" to refine your writing. By understanding these aspects, writers can effectively and accurately employ "difficult to determine" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to pinpoint

Focuses on the challenge of identifying something precisely.

difficult to ascertain

Emphasizes the effort required to find something out for certain.

troublesome to determine

Highlights the inconvenience or difficulty involved in the determination process.

tough to determine

Uses a more informal tone to express the difficulty in figuring something out.

hard to know

Simplifies the expression to indicate a lack of knowledge.

hard to determine

Synonymous and emphasizes the level of effort involved

complex to determine

Highlights the intricate nature of the determination process

intricate to determine

Underlines the complex and detailed nature of what needs to be determined.

not easy to determine

Emphasizes lack of ease

challenging to determine

Indicates that the determination requires considerable effort and skill.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to determine" to describe situations where something is not easily discovered or understood. For example, "The exact cause of the malfunction was difficult to determine."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to determine"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to ascertain", "difficult to pinpoint", or "challenging to ascertain" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "difficult to determine" or "hard to determine"?

"Difficult to determine" and "hard to determine" are often interchangeable, but "difficult" is generally considered more formal. The choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.

What makes something "difficult to determine"?

Something might be "difficult to determine" due to incomplete information, conflicting data, complex factors, or a lack of reliable methods for measurement or analysis.