difficult to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is hard to find or uncover, whether it be information, a location, or an object. Example: "The ancient manuscript was difficult to discover, hidden away in a forgotten library."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's very difficult to discover".

The New York Times

The motive, too, shouldn't be very difficult to discover.

The Guardian

However, it has been difficult to discover novel neuroactive drugs.

Nature

Dr. Landis explained that drugs were difficult to discover and expensive to research.

The New York Times

It is "extremely difficult" to discover new books on Amazon, says Daunt.

The Guardian - Books

He thinks those old matches were worthy of being adored as they were difficult to discover.

The Guardian - Sport

It is difficult to discover any point in calling talk "rabbit and pork".

The Guardian

"Twenty years after the blast, it is very difficult to discover who did it," he noted.

The Guardian

If it's difficult to discover, and promote, European writing, what about the rest of the world?

The Guardian - Books

Such associations may be difficult to discover and replicate using split data sets.

Nature

However, these breeding places are difficult to discover, rendering larvicidal control impractical.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to discover", consider the specific reason for the difficulty. Is it due to scarcity, complexity, or intentional concealment? Choosing more precise language can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to discover" when "hard to find" or "uncommon" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to discover" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the characteristic of something being challenging to find or uncover. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Science

53%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to discover" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for expressing the challenge of finding or uncovering something. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s versatile across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general knowledge domains. When writing, consider the specific reasons behind the difficulty and whether simpler alternatives might suffice for better clarity. While generally suitable, overusing this phrase in simple situations can make your language sound unnecessarily complex. The phrase enjoys a wide usage and is deemed appropriate by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is hard to discover

Similar in meaning, using "hard" as a direct synonym for "difficult".

problematic to discover

Replaces "difficult" with a synonym that emphasizes the troublesome aspect of the discovery process.

challenging to discover

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging", highlighting the demanding nature of the discovery.

difficult to uncover

Focuses on the act of revealing or exposing something hidden.

been hard to discover

Emphasizes that the difficulty in discovery has persisted over time.

difficult to find

A more general term focusing on the act of finding something, not necessarily implying a complex uncovering process.

difficult to locate

Focuses specifically on the challenge of finding a physical location or object.

difficult to find out

Emphasizes the challenge in acquiring information or learning something.

difficult to detect

Highlights the challenge of noticing or perceiving something that is not easily apparent.

difficulties to discover

Shifts the focus to the challenges themselves rather than the act of discovering.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to discover" to describe anything that is hard to find or uncover. For example, "The truth was "difficult to discover" because of conflicting accounts."

What can I say instead of "difficult to discover"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to find", "challenging to uncover", or "problematic to reveal" depending on the context.

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

Both "difficult to discover" and "hard to discover" are correct, but "difficult" is generally considered more formal. The choice depends on the tone you want to convey.

What's the difference between "difficult to discover" and "difficult to detect"?

"Difficult to discover" generally implies something is hidden or obscured. "Difficult to detect" implies something is present but hard to perceive or measure. For example, a hidden clue is "difficult to discover", while a faint signal is difficult to detect.