difficult to oversee

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to oversee" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or task that is difficult to supervise or direct. For example, "Managing a construction project with over 1,000 workers is difficult to oversee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But the very nature of funeral work makes it difficult to oversee, they say.

The New York Times

The state education commissioner, Richard P. Mills, said it had been difficult to oversee the district's finances because administrators were often late in providing financial reports and information about purchases.

The New York Times

This is because grants made to principle investigators often include training components that can be difficult to oversee.

Science Magazine

But the proliferation of mobile devices makes it more difficult to oversee what your children are watching.

BBC

This can still be done by using an informal theory, but when the number of aspects increases it will be more difficult to oversee all dynamic patterns that result from the interaction between these aspects.

Crime Science

Secondly, compared to the much smaller number of "in-house" government-run PCTs that once existed, it will be increasingly difficult to oversee and regulate all these out-sourced companies. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In this post Rifkind faced two difficult tasks: to oversee the deployment of British troops in former Yugoslavia without provoking diplomatic trouble within the Atlantic alliance and to manage a succession of reductions in the United Kingdom's defense budget without provoking hostility from the chiefs of the armed forces.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Over the past seven years, however, the agency has largely been a blemish on the mayor's record, a bureaucracy that found it difficult to effectively oversee a construction industry that operated at full throttle during the building boom while construction spending doubled.

The New York Times

As the Handschu filing shows, it is difficult for a court to oversee the department's actions without an independent monitor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Asked if the N.C.A.A. should enact specific guidelines for recruiting parties, Wally Renfro, a spokesman for the N.C.A.A., said: "It's difficult for the N.C.A.A. to oversee these parties.

The New York Times - Sports

It is more difficult for the Pentagon to oversee contractors that its own personnel.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger synonyms like "onerous" or "complex" if the situation warrants emphasis on the demanding nature of the oversight.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to oversee" without providing specific reasons. Instead of saying "The project is difficult to oversee", specify the factors contributing to the challenge, such as "The project is difficult to oversee due to its numerous interdependent components".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to oversee" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing something that presents challenges in supervision or management. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to oversee" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something challenging to supervise or manage. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, provide specific context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "challenging to supervise" or "hard to manage", allowing for nuanced expression. Be mindful of overgeneralizing the difficulty without providing supporting reasons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging to supervise

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "oversee" with "supervise", emphasizing the demanding nature of the task.

hard to manage

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult" and "manage" instead of "oversee", focusing on the control aspect.

complex to administer

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex" and "oversee" with "administer", highlighting the intricate nature of the process.

onerous to monitor

Replaces "difficult" with "onerous" and "oversee" with "monitor", stressing the burdensome aspect of tracking progress.

troublesome to regulate

Uses "troublesome" instead of "difficult" and "regulate" instead of "oversee", emphasizing the problematic aspect of controlling.

not easily supervised

Shifts the phrasing to a passive construction using "not easily" instead of "difficult", and "supervised" instead of "oversee".

presents oversight challenges

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, highlighting the challenges related to oversight.

demands rigorous supervision

Replaces "difficult to oversee" with a phrase that emphasizes the need for strict supervision.

requires close monitoring

Focuses on the need for careful observation and tracking, rather than the difficulty of overseeing.

not straightforward to control

Emphasizes that control is not simple or easy, instead of focusing on the difficulty of overseeing.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to oversee" to describe projects, processes, or teams that are challenging to manage or supervise. For example, "The decentralized nature of the organization made it "difficult to oversee" the individual departments effectively."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to oversee"?

Alternatives include "challenging to supervise", "hard to manage", or "complex to administer", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to oversee" or "hard to oversee"?

Both "difficult to oversee" and "hard to oversee" are acceptable. "Difficult" might be perceived as slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal. Consider the context and your preferred tone.

In what situations is something "difficult to oversee"?

Something might be "difficult to oversee" when there are many moving parts, when communication is poor, or when the person responsible lacks the necessary expertise.