difficult to explore

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to explore" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a subject, topic, or area that poses challenges in terms of investigation or understanding. Example: "The depths of the ocean are often considered difficult to explore due to the extreme conditions and lack of light."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This will propel a step-change in knowledge and technology, which will facilitate exploration by private companies in areas that have historically been difficult to explore".

The Guardian

Unfortunately, the hypothesis is devilishly difficult to explore.

The Washington Post

There are many places that we don't know because it's difficult to explore".

The New York Times - Sports

It is also difficult to explore design space to check for feasibility at early design stage.

Procedia Engineering

The area is still closed to non-nationals, so it's difficult to explore, and there are no roads.

The Guardian - Books

Because of its greater thickness, diversity, and complexity, the continental crust is much more difficult to explore.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This may therefore reduce the vast space of "microbial dark matter" that has up to now been difficult to explore.

University of California, Berkeley

It can be difficult to explore toxic love in contemporary novels: you are reflecting the true nature and experience of being with – or sometimes, being – a troubled person.

The Guardian

Mars has long been considered not only difficult to explore but alluring, given its reputation as the most likely spot in the solar system to harbor extraterrestrials.

The New York Times - Science

Hearing about his bad boy youth, one is struck by how similar it is to his bad boy adulthood, although it is difficult to explore this theory.

The New York Times

However, it is difficult to explore the involvement of inflammation and injury with classical electrical kindling, since the stimulation electrode introduces those two factors.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the limitations of a study or research, use "difficult to explore" to acknowledge inherent challenges, not as an excuse for lack of rigor. For example, "While the sample size was small, making detailed subgroup analysis difficult to explore, efforts were made to account for potential biases."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to explore" in excessively passive constructions that obscure agency. Instead of saying "The data was difficult to explore", try "Researchers found the data difficult to explore due to its complexity"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to explore" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive verb. It describes something (a topic, area, etc.) that presents challenges to investigation or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and widely usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

33%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to explore" is a versatile expression used to describe challenges in investigating or understanding a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse fields. Its common application extends from scientific research to journalistic reporting, as confirmed from the multiple examples. While it is suitable for formal and neutral registers, be mindful of overusing passive voice and ensure agency is clear in your writing. For alternative phrasing, consider "hard to investigate" or "challenging to examine" to add nuance to your descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to investigate

Focuses on the laboriousness of the investigation process.

challenging to examine

Emphasizes the intellectual rigor required for examination.

problematic to study

Highlights issues or difficulties in conducting a study.

complex to analyze

Suggests that the subject has intricate layers needing untangling.

not easily understood

Focuses on the resultant comprehension rather than the process.

requires extensive research

Underlines the need for thorough investigation.

poses significant difficulties for exploration

More formal and emphasizes the act of exploration directly.

difficult to comprehend

Focuses on the difficulty in understanding the subject.

not straightforward to investigate

Implies the process lacks a simple or direct path.

entails considerable research efforts

More verbose and highlights the scale of research involved.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "difficult to explore"?

When something is described as "difficult to explore", it means that investigating or understanding it presents significant challenges, often due to complexity, lack of resources, or other obstacles.

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

You can use "difficult to explore" to describe a topic, area, or concept that is challenging to investigate. For example: "The deep sea is difficult to explore due to the extreme pressure and lack of light".

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

Some alternatives include "hard to investigate", "challenging to examine", or "problematic to study". The best choice depends on the specific context.

In academic writing, is "difficult to explore" considered formal enough?

Yes, "difficult to explore" is generally suitable for academic writing. However, depending on the specific field and context, more precise or technical language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "complex to analyze" or "requires extensive research".