difficult to pick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to pick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that something is challenging to choose or select from a group or list. Example: "With so many great options available, it was difficult to pick just one favorite."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too difficult to pick just one?

The Guardian - Opinion

TC: That's very difficult to pick.

The Guardian - Sport

Even then, it is relatively difficult to pick up.

The New Yorker

It was difficult to pick them up for the penalties.

Independent

It was difficult to pick up my medical studies again.

The Guardian - Sport

It's difficult to pick the best from another bumper year.

The Guardian - Music

"They find it difficult to pick each other out.

The Guardian - Sport

But berries are notoriously difficult to pick mechanically, Snell said.

The Washington Post

It's difficult to pick that last fact apart.

MIT Technology Review

It is not difficult to pick out the true executive" (Box 1, Folder 7).

Columbia University

It is very difficult to pick one favorite class among all the classes I have taken.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to pick", ensure the context clearly indicates what options are being considered and why the selection is challenging. For example, 'With so many qualified candidates, it was difficult to pick the best one for the job.'

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to pick" without specifying the options or the criteria for selection. For instance, instead of saying 'It's difficult to pick', specify 'It's difficult to pick a winner from such a talented group of athletes'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to pick" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the act of choosing or selecting as challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to pick" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression for conveying the challenge of making a selection. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage across various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. While alternatives like "hard to choose" or "challenging to select" exist, it's crucial to provide clear context regarding the choices and selection criteria. This ensures clarity and effective communication, avoiding vague or ambiguous statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to choose

Replaces 'difficult' with 'hard', offering a more common and slightly less formal synonym.

challenging to select

Substitutes 'difficult' with 'challenging' and 'pick' with 'select', conveying a more formal tone.

tough to decide

Uses 'tough' instead of 'difficult' and 'decide' instead of 'pick', indicating a more informal and colloquial expression.

not easy to determine

Rephrases the entire phrase to emphasize the lack of ease in making a determination.

a challenge to single out

Employs a noun phrase structure, highlighting the act of singling something out as a challenge.

tricky to pinpoint

Replaces 'difficult' with 'tricky' and 'pick' with 'pinpoint', suggesting a subtle or elusive selection process.

complex to settle on

Indicates that the choice requires a complex consideration before a decision can be made.

laborious to identify

Suggests that considerable effort is needed to identify or select something.

taxing to differentiate

Emphasizes the mental strain involved in differentiating and choosing between options.

requires careful selection

Shifts the focus to the need for careful and deliberate selection due to inherent difficulty.

FAQs

What does "difficult to pick" mean?

The phrase "difficult to pick" means that it is challenging to choose or select something from a range of options. The difficulty might arise from the similarity of the choices, a lack of clear criteria, or other factors that complicate the decision-making process.

What can I say instead of "difficult to pick"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to choose", "challenging to select", or "tough to decide" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficult to pick"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "difficult to pick". It follows the standard structure of 'adjective + to + verb' to describe something that is challenging or complicated to select.

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

Here's an example: "With so many talented artists in the competition, it was very "difficult to pick" a winner."