difficult to insist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to insist" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a challenge in making a strong demand or assertion, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "It is often difficult to insist on changes when faced with strong opposition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Such differences make it difficult to insist on the similarity of the melting behavior for microwire and nanowire meshes, even if both of which have the same structure under the same working conditions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Therefore, it is difficult to insist the same result as Swedish report.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Some interviewees reported that they found it difficult to insist on the use of condoms for fear of losing their partner.

Ethnicity and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It will be difficult for Republicans to insist on taking health insurance away from people with cancer who've lost their jobs.

The Economist

Additionally, social and gender inequalities, such as poverty and unequal educational and occupational opportunities, force women to rely on male partners for financial support, making it more difficult for them to insist on interventions that reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.

Huffington Post

26– 29 Women's economic dependence on their partners may also make it difficult for them to insist on safer sex (eg, condom use).

BMJ Open

The belief that HIV-positive men cannot transmit infection after MC might make it more difficult for women to insist that circumcised men should use condoms.

AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV

Hunger often formed the basis for sexual transactions between men and women, and made it difficult for women to insist on condom use.

AIDS and Behavior

"Also, in sub-Saharan Africa, it's very difficult for a woman to insist on condom use".

The Guardian

And while it may appear that the board is not being very flexible, he said, making an exception for one buyer could make it difficult for the board to insist on meeting future buyers.

The New York Times

Although the diet control is helpful to the prevention and treatment of diabetes, it is difficult for the individual to insist on.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the idea of struggling to assert a point or demand something, consider using clearer alternatives like "hard to assert" or "challenging to demand" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to insist" as it sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Replace with options that specify what is difficult such as "difficult to assert", or specify who is experiencing the difficulty, such as "they find it difficult to insist".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to insist" functions as an adjectival phrase attempting to describe the level of challenge associated with a particular action. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is awkward and doesn't convey a clear meaning. The intended meaning is to describe the challenges associated with asserting or demanding something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "difficult to insist" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as an awkward and unclear expression. It's better to choose clearer alternatives such as "hard to assert" or "challenging to demand" to express the intended meaning more effectively. The phrase's usage is rare, and authoritative sources tend to use more precise language. Therefore, clarity and precision should guide your word choice, especially in formal or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to assert

Replaces "insist" with "assert", focusing on the act of stating something firmly.

challenging to demand

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "insist" with "demand", emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

tough to maintain

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult" and "maintain" in place of "insist", highlighting the effort required for upkeep.

hard to enforce

Replaces "insist" with "enforce", focusing on the difficulty of making something happen.

difficult to uphold

Substitutes "insist" with "uphold", which emphasizes the difficulty in maintaining a standard or principle.

hard to stand by

Uses "stand by" instead of "insist", conveying the challenge of supporting something.

challenging to affirm

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "insist" with "affirm", highlighting the challenge of asserting belief.

tough to press for

Uses "press for" in place of "insist", emphasizing the effort to gain something.

difficult to push for

Similar to "tough to press for", emphasizing the effort needed to advocate for something.

challenging to advocate

Emphasizes difficulty when promote and defend an idea.

FAQs

What does "difficult to insist" mean?

The phrase "difficult to insist" is not a standard or clear expression in English. It likely attempts to convey the idea that it is hard to strongly assert something or demand a particular action, but the phrasing is awkward and less direct than alternatives.

How can I rephrase "difficult to insist" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "hard to assert", "challenging to demand", or "tough to maintain", which provide greater clarity depending on the intended context.

Is "difficult to insist" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "difficult to insist" is an awkward and uncommon phrasing. It's better to use more precise language to convey your intended meaning.

When should I avoid using "difficult to insist"?

Avoid using "difficult to insist" in formal writing or situations where clarity is paramount. Opt for clearer and more direct alternatives to ensure effective communication.