difficult to keep tabs on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to keep tabs on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something or someone that is hard to monitor or track. Example: "With so many projects happening at once, it's becoming difficult to keep tabs on all the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But it remains difficult to keep tabs on where commodities are sourced in supply chains.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But its operations in more than 100 countries have spread management thin and made it difficult to keep tabs on risks.

The New York Times

Despite their best budgeting attempts, some people still find it difficult to keep tabs on their spending.

Forbes

Groupon's rapid growth also made it difficult to keep tabs on internal controls, accounting experts said.

Huffington Post

Abel Sr., 34, works as a roofer, and the parents' busy work schedules make it difficult to keep tabs on whether their son is getting daily exercise.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Scientists have had a hard time keeping tabs on WNS partly because it's hard to keep tabs on bats.

Huffington Post

Still, it's hard to keep tabs on what goes on inside a private room.

The New Yorker

Is it hard to keep tabs on them all?

Vice

"You can see how quickly the technical challenges are being overcome, even faster than we anticipated," she said, adding that it would be difficult for regulators to keep tabs on all research, all the time.

Los Angeles Times

In the original version of the app, you had to be physically present to see tags, making it difficult (if not impossible) to keep tabs on items your friends had created.

TechCrunch

The popularity of online short-term rental platforms has made it difficult for the city to keep tabs on un-permitted homes.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to keep tabs on", ensure the subject you are tracking is clearly defined. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "difficult to keep tabs on" is acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "challenging to monitor" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to keep tabs on" functions as a descriptive expression. It highlights the challenge of monitoring or tracking something effectively. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes a situation where maintaining oversight is not easy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to keep tabs on" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe something that is challenging to monitor or track. According to Ludwig AI, it is a usable phrase in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it can also be found in academic settings. It's important to consider the register of your writing; more formal alternatives may be preferable in certain situations. The phrase highlights the complexity and effort required to maintain oversight, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to monitor

Emphasizes the effort required for monitoring.

challenging to track

Focuses on the difficulty of following something's progress.

difficult to oversee

Highlights the problem of supervising something adequately.

tough to keep track of

Similar meaning with a slightly more informal tone.

hard to supervise

Emphasizes the challenge of managing or directing something effectively.

difficult to follow

Focuses on the complexity of understanding the progress.

unwieldy to manage

Highlights difficulties related to the size or complexity of what's being managed.

hard to keep in view

Focuses on the ability to clearly see or understand the situation.

difficult to stay abreast of

Highlights the challenge of keeping up-to-date with the latest developments.

hard to keep a handle on

Implies a loss of control or understanding.

FAQs

What does "difficult to keep tabs on" mean?

It means something is hard to monitor or track effectively.

What are some alternatives to "difficult to keep tabs on"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to monitor", "challenging to track", or "tough to keep track of" depending on the context.

How can I use "difficult to keep tabs on" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to the rapid changes in technology, it's becoming "difficult to keep tabs on" all the new developments."

Is "difficult to keep tabs on" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral to slightly informal. In more formal writing, consider alternatives like "challenging to monitor".