difficult to gauge to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to gauge to" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a misconstruction, as "gauge" typically does not require "to" in this context. Example: "It is difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the new policy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said that it was difficult to gauge whether to remain at 10 teams if Missouri stayed or expand to 12 teams until Missouri left for the SEC.

The New York Times - Sports

It is difficult to gauge whether Mr. Paul's fund-raising prowess will translate into votes.

The New York Times

The benefits to small farmers are difficult to gauge.

The New York Times

It is difficult to gauge reaction to the recent guidelines among seminary students and gay priests.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly, it is difficult to gauge the true number or to analyse trends of hidden homelessness.

The Guardian

It is difficult to gauge the importance of this relationship to Mr. Abramoff's success.

The New York Times

It is difficult to gauge the extent to which viewers who gripe about taped programming decide ultimately not to watch.

The New York Times - Sports

It is difficult to gauge public attitude to executions in Iran but Iranians increasingly favour forgiveness in cases involving murder.

The Guardian

The reaction of the jury to the letter was difficult to gauge yesterday.

The New York Times

Degrees of squalor are difficult to gauge, but they appear to be as poor as the Kurds.

The New York Times

But the real impact of the Goldman Sachs inquiry seemed difficult to gauge when it came to Republicans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "difficult to gauge to" as it's grammatically incorrect. Use "difficult to gauge" or "hard to assess" instead.

Common error

The phrase "difficult to gauge" is already clear and concise. Adding "to" after "gauge" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Opt for clarity by sticking to the standard form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to gauge to" is intended to function as an adjective phrase describing something that's hard to assess or estimate. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the addition of "to" makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to gauge to" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, indicating it's a misconstruction. The correct form is "difficult to gauge". While the intention is to express uncertainty or difficulty in assessment, the improper grammar undermines clarity and credibility. Alternatives like "hard to assess" or "challenging to measure" are recommended for better communication. Pay close attention to grammatical accuracy to ensure your message is well-received and understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to assess

Replaces "difficult to gauge to" with a simpler, more direct expression of difficulty in assessment.

challenging to measure

Focuses on the measurement aspect, highlighting the difficulty in quantifying something.

difficult to ascertain

Uses a more formal word, "ascertain", to emphasize the difficulty in finding something out for certain.

not easy to determine

Expresses the difficulty in a straightforward manner, using common vocabulary.

remains uncertain

Shifts the focus to the state of uncertainty, rather than the act of gauging.

difficult to evaluate

Highlights the difficulty in making judgements about the value or quality of something.

the full extent is unknown

Focuses on the fact that the complete scope or degree of something isn't known.

hard to predict

Emphasizes the difficulty in foreseeing or estimating a future outcome.

elusive to define

Highlights the difficulty in precisely stating or explaining the nature of something.

impossible to fully comprehend

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty or inability to understand something completely.

FAQs

Is "difficult to gauge to" grammatically correct?

No, the correct phrase is "difficult to gauge". The addition of "to" after "gauge" is grammatically incorrect and not standard English usage. It's "hard to assess" why someone might add "to", but it should be avoided.

What is a better alternative to "difficult to gauge to"?

Instead of "difficult to gauge to", use "difficult to gauge". Other alternatives include "hard to assess", "challenging to measure", or "difficult to ascertain".

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

You can use "difficult to gauge" in sentences like: "It is difficult to gauge the impact of the new policy", or "The public's reaction to the scandal is difficult to gauge".

What is the difference between "difficult to gauge" and "difficult to measure"?

"Difficult to gauge" generally refers to assessing or estimating something subjectively, while "difficult to measure" implies a challenge in quantifying something objectively. For instance, it's "difficult to gauge" public opinion, but "difficult to measure" the precise amount of rainfall.