difficult to imagine

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to imagine" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is hard to form an image of in your mind, or something that is hard to believe is true. For example: "It is difficult to imagine what life must have been like before the invention of the internet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is difficult to imagine.

The New York Times - Science

That may be difficult to imagine.

The New Yorker

it's difficult to imagine anyone else.

Independent

It's not so difficult to imagine.

The Guardian

It is not difficult to imagine others.

The New York Times

A Labour majority is difficult to imagine.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is not difficult to imagine why.

The New York Times

I find it very difficult to imagine.

The Guardian

It is not so difficult to imagine.

The Guardian - Sport

This might seem difficult to imagine today.

The New York Times

It is difficult to imagine worse ones.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to imagine" to express skepticism or disbelief, especially when implying that a situation or outcome is unlikely or unprecedented. For instance, "It's difficult to imagine the team winning without their star player."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to imagine" in situations where a simpler phrase like "unlikely" or "hard to believe" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "difficult to imagine" is to act as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, typically expressing a challenge in visualizing or conceiving something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to imagine" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something is hard to visualize, believe, or comprehend. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it also appears in academic contexts, indicating its versatility. While effective, writers should avoid overuse and consider more concise alternatives like "hard to believe" or "unlikely" in simpler scenarios. The phrase is valuable for expressing skepticism or incredulity, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not easy to picture

Highlights the visual aspect of imagination but uses simpler vocabulary.

unlikely to envision

Similar to "difficult to imagine", but emphasizes the low probability of forming a mental image.

tough to conceive

Focuses on the challenge of forming an idea or concept, rather than a mental image.

hard to fathom

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding or comprehending something, moving away from the visual aspect of imagining.

not readily conceivable

Uses more formal language to express the difficulty in forming an idea or mental representation.

challenges comprehension

Focuses on the difficulty in understanding something intellectually, rather than visually imagining it.

hard to believe

Expresses doubt or disbelief, rather than difficulty in forming a mental picture.

strains credulity

Shifts the focus to believability, suggesting that something is hard to accept as true.

defies expectation

Indicates that something goes against what is normally anticipated or predicted.

beggars description

Indicates that something is so extraordinary or extreme that it cannot be adequately described.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult to imagine" to express that something is hard to believe or visualize. For example, "It is "difficult to imagine" a world without the internet" or "I find it "difficult to imagine" him being dishonest".

What's a more concise alternative to "difficult to imagine"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "hard to believe", "unlikely", or "inconceivable". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "difficult to imagine" formal or informal?

"Difficult to imagine" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "not readily conceivable".

What is the difference between "difficult to imagine" and "impossible to imagine"?

"Difficult to imagine" suggests something is hard to visualize or believe, but still possible. "Impossible to imagine" implies something is completely beyond the realm of possibility or comprehension. The latter is a stronger statement.