difficult to perceive

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to perceive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a concept or idea that is difficult to recognize or understand. For example: "The importance of the subtle differences between these two ideas was difficult to perceive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's difficult to perceive on first glance.

The Guardian

"They speed up and make visible conditions that are always there but are difficult to perceive.

The New York Times - Health

But, anywhere near the city, that difference is likely to be difficult to perceive.

The Guardian

The sun cast everything in a sepia light, making it difficult to perceive colours.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In general, it was difficult to perceive location within the greater website.

University of California, Berkeley

Fat comes in so many guises and so many textures it is very difficult to perceive how much is there".

The New Yorker

It is more difficult to perceive someone as greedy and demanding when she is solving your problems.

Harvard Business Review

Even for an outside observer, the reasons for his rumored change of heart aren't all that difficult to perceive.

The Guardian - Film

"It's difficult to perceive him as a priest," said Juri Mykkanen, a professor of political science at Helsinki University, of Father Repo.

The New York Times

Almost everything around us is imperceptible, almost all the rest is maddeningly difficult to perceive, and what remains scarcely amounts to anything.

The New Yorker

All of our institutions are striving to make wise choices amidst swirling economic, social, and political currents that often make wisdom difficult to perceive.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to perceive", ensure the subject and context clearly indicate what is causing the difficulty. For example, specify if it's due to subtlety, complexity, or external factors.

Common error

Don't use "difficult to perceive" without providing context. Instead of saying 'The problem was difficult to perceive', specify 'The subtle signs of the impending economic downturn were difficult to perceive'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to perceive" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or concept, indicating a challenge in understanding or recognition. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is deemed correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to perceive" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express that something is challenging to understand or recognize. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's deemed correct and usable in various contexts. Its frequency across diverse sources—from news and media to science and academia—underscores its broad applicability. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the subject and context clearly indicate what contributes to the perceptual difficulty. Alternatives such as "hard to discern" or "challenging to detect" offer nuanced variations depending on the specific shade of meaning you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to discern

This alternative changes the verb to 'discern', focusing on the challenge of distinguishing something clearly.

challenging to detect

Switching to 'detect' emphasizes the difficulty in noticing or identifying something.

not easily recognized

This rephrasing highlights the lack of immediate recognition.

obscure to understand

The term 'obscure' focuses on the lack of clarity in comprehension.

subtle to notice

Using 'subtle' emphasizes that the difficulty arises from something being understated.

imperceptible to the senses

This phrase changes to 'imperceptible', suggesting something is nearly impossible to sense.

vague to comprehend

Replacing with 'vague' indicates a lack of definiteness making it hard to grasp.

elusive to grasp

The word 'elusive' emphasizes the challenge in capturing or holding onto an understanding.

tricky to make out

Using 'tricky' indicates the difficulty comes from deception or complexity.

veiled from view

The term 'veiled' suggests that something is hidden or obscured.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to perceive" to describe something that is not easily understood or noticed. For example: "The subtle nuances of the painting were "difficult to perceive" without proper lighting."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to perceive"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hard to discern", "challenging to detect", or "not easily recognized", depending on the specific context.

Is "difficult to perceive" formal or informal?

"Difficult to perceive" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in news, academic, and scientific writing. Its formality can be adjusted based on the surrounding language.

What makes something "difficult to perceive"?

Something might be "difficult to perceive" due to its subtlety, complexity, lack of clarity, or external factors that obscure it. For example, economic trends can be "difficult to perceive" because they are influenced by so many different variables.