difficult to establish with certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to establish with certainty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations or facts that are hard to confirm or verify definitively. Example: "The exact cause of the phenomenon remains difficult to establish with certainty due to the lack of comprehensive data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The interrelationship of LH and FSH has made it difficult to establish with certainty that two separate hormones exist, particularly since both are glycoproteins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Records of average world temperature over the past several decades often show changes of 0.1 to 0.3 °C (0.2 to 0.5 °F) from year to year unrelated to any known volcanic eruptions, so it is difficult to establish with certainty whether volcanoes have a major impact on climate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although its ancestry has been difficult to establish with certainty, it is thought to have descended from Spanish Barb horses taken to the New World by the Spanish in the 16th century and to have been crossbred with Percherons, draft horses from France that had been imported by French Canadians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The number of aerodromes that support GA in the UK is difficult to establish with certainty.

Wikipedia

Userkaf's mortuary temple layout and architecture is difficult to establish with certainty.

Wikipedia

However, it is difficult to establish with certainty that the observed effects were solely due to mitotic bookmarking and not to interphase functions of these factors.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a significant number of existing and new concrete structures suffer from repair and maintenance problems, but a lack of objective construction industry supported data concerning these problems makes it difficult to establish, with any certainty, the actual problems encountered in current concrete construction in the UK.

Case Studies in Construction Materials

Although difficult to establish with any certainty, this prospect suggests the need to promote integrated prevention with both community and individual actions complementing each another.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Whether such trends reflect differences in case definition or completeness of reporting across registries and exposure categories, and whether these may have led to important biases, is difficult to establish with any certainty.

Environmental Health Perspectives

It is difficult to establish with any certainty the impact of these events, or indeed of his own experience of pain and life-threatening illness (Selye, 1979: xi; Selye, 1977: 124 8), on Selye's science and philosophy.

History of the Human Sciences

For this reason, it is difficult to establish, with a high degree of certainty, whether the decrease of RAP observed in MCI and LOAD patients is linked to a ROS-dependent depletion or to a scarce dietary intake of antioxidants.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overusing this phrase. While grammatically sound, repeated use can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language with synonyms like "hard to prove conclusively" or "not possible to determine definitively".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to establish with certainty" as a weak disclaimer before making a definitive statement. The phrase should introduce a genuine acknowledgment of uncertainty, not undermine a subsequent claim. Be clear about the limits of your knowledge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to establish with certainty" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a fact or conclusion cannot be definitively proven or confirmed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It often modifies a statement, introducing a degree of uncertainty or doubt.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to establish with certainty" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express uncertainty or a lack of definitive proof. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most common in scientific, academic, and news contexts. It's important to use this phrase judiciously, being mindful of the audience and context. Consider alternative phrasings, such as "hard to prove conclusively" or "not possible to determine definitively", to avoid repetition and maintain clarity. While commonly used, ensure it introduces genuine uncertainty and isn't employed as a weak disclaimer. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively convey nuanced information and acknowledge the limits of current knowledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to prove conclusively

Focuses on the challenge of providing definitive proof.

not possible to determine definitively

Emphasizes the impossibility of reaching a firm conclusion.

challenging to ascertain with assurance

Highlights the difficulty in gaining confident knowledge.

uncertain to verify

Focuses on the lack of verification.

tough to confirm beyond doubt

Stresses the struggle to eliminate all doubt.

difficult to validate unequivocally

Highlights the challenge of providing unquestionable validation.

remains unconfirmed

Simply states that something has not been confirmed.

cannot be stated with confidence

Emphasizes a lack of confidence in making a statement.

lacks definitive evidence

Focuses on a absence of conclusive evidence.

open to interpretation

Suggests multiple possible understandings.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "difficult to establish with certainty"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to prove conclusively", "not possible to determine definitively", or "challenging to ascertain with assurance" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "difficult to establish with certainty" or "hard to establish with certainty"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult to establish with certainty" might be perceived as slightly more formal, while "hard to establish with certainty" is more informal. The choice depends on the context and your desired tone.

In what contexts is "difficult to establish with certainty" most appropriate?

This phrase is suitable in academic, scientific, and professional contexts where acknowledging uncertainty is important. It's often used when discussing complex issues where definitive proof is lacking, or when evaluating evidence.

What's the difference between "difficult to establish with certainty" and "impossible to establish with certainty"?

"Difficult to establish with certainty" suggests a high degree of uncertainty, but leaves open the possibility of future confirmation. "Impossible to establish with certainty" indicates that confirmation is unattainable under any circumstances.