difficult to isolate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to isolate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is hard to separate or distinguish from other elements or factors. Example: "The symptoms of the disease are often similar to those of other conditions, making it difficult to isolate the specific cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Insulin, however, proved difficult to isolate.

The Guardian

It also could be difficult to isolate from the solvent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It is very difficult to isolate a couple of provisions," Mr. Daschle said.

The New York Times

The causes for major market moves are always difficult to isolate.

The New Yorker

As for the record, it is difficult to isolate his contribution with precision.

The Economist

But the krypton 81 isotopes were devilishly difficult to isolate and even more difficult to catch.

The New York Times - Science

Do that and it becomes very difficult to isolate the next match from what has come before it.

The Guardian - Sport

"Without disrupting the march it would have been very difficult to isolate them and take them out.

The Guardian

In many cases, union rules will make it difficult to isolate personnel decisions to a single line.

The New York Times

For one thing, it would be difficult to isolate the most glaring example of my bad behavior.

The New York Times - Tech

"The symptoms are tiredness, drinking a lot of water, losing weight, but it's difficult to isolate things.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to isolate", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the difficulty. Be specific about the factors that make separation or distinction challenging. For example, instead of saying "It's difficult to isolate", clarify with "It's difficult to isolate the effect of the new policy due to pre-existing economic conditions".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to isolate" as a vague statement without explaining why something is hard to isolate. Instead of simply stating that something is "difficult to isolate", specify the contributing factors or complexities that create the challenge. This provides more clarity and strengthens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to isolate" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated noun. It describes the degree of difficulty in separating or distinguishing a particular element, factor, or variable from others. Ludwig confirms its proper grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to isolate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for describing situations where distinguishing or separating a particular element is challenging. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is prevalent in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide specific details about the reasons for the difficulty, avoiding vague or overgeneralized statements. Alternatives like "hard to distinguish" or "challenging to differentiate" can be used to add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to distinguish

Focuses on the challenge of telling something apart from other things.

challenging to differentiate

Highlights the difficulty in recognizing the difference between items.

tough to separate

Emphasizes the effort required to divide or detach something.

complex to disentangle

Suggests a complicated situation where isolating elements is hard.

not easy to pinpoint

Stresses the problem of precisely identifying a specific element.

problematic to segregate

Indicates that there are issues with keeping something separate.

involves intertwined complexities

Emphasizes the complex interaction and relationship of aspects that can't be easily disentangled.

requires extensive deconvolution

Suggests that isolation requires some mathematical reverse engineering.

presented intermingled aspects

Indicates the aspects are tightly embedded and impossible to untangle.

necessitates convoluted differentiation

Implies that determining a specific element requires some advanced, perhaps complex, logic.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult to isolate" when you want to express that something is hard to distinguish or separate from other factors. For instance, "The symptoms are so similar that it's "difficult to isolate" the specific disease".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to isolate"?

You can use alternatives such as "hard to distinguish", "challenging to differentiate", or "tough to separate" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "difficult to isolate" or "difficult to be isolated"?

"Difficult to isolate" is the correct and more concise phrasing. "Difficult to be isolated" is grammatically awkward and less common.

What's the difference between "difficult to isolate" and "difficult to identify"?

"Difficult to isolate" implies a challenge in separating something from its surroundings or related factors, while "difficult to identify" suggests a challenge in recognizing or determining what something is. For example, it might be "difficult to isolate" the cause of the problem, but once isolated, easy to identify.