difficult to device

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to device" is not correct in English; it should be "difficult to devise." You can use it when discussing the challenges of creating or planning something.
Example: "The project was difficult to devise due to the complex requirements and limited resources."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, muscovite mica is not further processable, making it difficult to pattern device architecture directly on the growth substrate.

Nanoscale Res Lett

The high degree of sequence conservation of P. aeruginosa strains makes it a difficult task to device strategies for the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria that are based on vaccination or hygiene measures, and strengthens the need for designing strategies that inhibit the expression of virulence associated traits to contend with P. aeruginosa infections.

BMC Genomics

Competition in the modern smartphone space is fierce — so much so long time smartphone veterans, such as BlackBerry, are finding it difficult to ship devices.

TechCrunch

If the IUDs were going through the uterine serosa, or entirely outside the uterus, invading the organs in the pelvic abdominal cavity would make it difficult to remove devices.

Gynecological Surgery

Meanwhile, since the long-chain carboxyl acid is usually attached to the surface of PbS, it is difficult to gain satisfactory device performance unless the carboxyl ligands are well removed during device fabrication processes.

Nano-Micro Letters

But most of them operate in the same frequency range, around 13.56 MHz, so it is not too difficult to build a device that can talk to all of them.And that is exactly what an NFC chip does.

The Economist

That will present some design challenges that may make it difficult to keep the device small.

Forbes

Bulmer acknowledges it was sometimes difficult to incorporate this device into her writing so that it didn't just become a gimmick.

BBC

In an age where a smartphone serves as everything from a dating tool to a health monitor, it's become increasingly difficult to market a device that's really only built to do one thing.

TechCrunch

For example, it is desirable to collect information in sufficient temporal spatial density with a fixed sensor when measuring the sunshine and temperature on the sidewalk, etc., but it can be assumed to be difficult to install a device having the capability of network connection to the server in the sensor function at a sufficient density in terms of its costs.

ROBOMECH Journal

However, ITO films, typically deposited on glass are brittle and they make it difficult to produce flexible devices, restricting their use for flexible devices.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to describe something challenging to create or plan, ensure you're using the correct verb form, "devise", instead of the noun "device". Use phrases like "difficult to devise" or "challenging to create".

Common error

A frequent mistake is using the noun "device" when the verb "devise" is needed. "Device" refers to a tool or instrument, while "devise" means to plan or create. To avoid this, double-check whether you're referring to an object or an action of creating something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to device" is grammatically incorrect. The intended function is to express the challenge of creating or planning something. The correct form is "difficult to devise", where "devise" is a verb.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to device" is grammatically incorrect; the correct phrase is "difficult to devise." According to Ludwig AI, the intended meaning is to describe something challenging to create or plan. The proper usage involves using the verb "devise" instead of the noun "device". Common errors involve confusing the noun and verb forms. Alternatives include "hard to devise" or "challenging to develop". The phrase's intended function is to express the degree of complexity involved in formulating a plan or solution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to devise

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and corrects "device" to "devise".

challenging to develop

Uses "challenging" instead of "difficult" and "develop" instead of "device" to emphasize the complexity of creation.

tough to formulate

Substitutes "difficult" with "tough" and "device" with "formulate", focusing on the mental effort of creating something.

problematic to design

Emphasizes the presence of problems in the design process, replacing "difficult" and "device" with "problematic" and "design".

complicated to conceive

Highlights the complexity of conceiving an idea, using "complicated" instead of "difficult" and "conceive" instead of "device".

onerous to construct

Indicates that the construction process is burdensome, substituting "difficult" with "onerous" and "device" with "construct".

awkward to implement

Suggests that implementation is clumsy or unskillful, replacing "difficult" and "device" with "awkward" and "implement".

tricky to engineer

Focuses on the engineering aspect and the trickiness involved, using "tricky" instead of "difficult" and "engineer" instead of "device".

demanding to originate

Emphasizes the high demands placed on the originator, substituting "difficult" with "demanding" and "originate" instead of "device".

strenuous to bring about

Highlights the strenuous effort required to bring something into existence, replacing "difficult" and "device" with "strenuous" and "bring about".

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "difficult to device"?

The correct phrase is "difficult to devise." The word "devise" means to plan or invent, while "device" is a noun referring to a tool or piece of equipment.

What does it mean when something is "difficult to devise"?

It means that creating or planning something is challenging or problematic. You might also say it's "hard to devise", "challenging to develop", or "complicated to conceive".

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

Example: "The project was particularly difficult to devise due to the limited resources and complex requirements." Other examples can be: "It was difficult to devise a solution that pleased everyone" or "The strategy was difficult to devise, considering all the variables involved".

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult to devise"?

You can use alternatives such as "hard to formulate", "tricky to engineer", or "problematic to design" depending on the specific context and meaning you want to convey.