difficult to predict that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to predict that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations or outcomes that are uncertain or hard to foresee. Example: "Given the current economic climate, it is difficult to predict that the market will recover anytime soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

So it's difficult to predict that 5percentt is all they will rise next year.

The New York Times

"Is it really that difficult to predict that five brickyards in Texas will still produce most of the brick in Texas in 20 years' time?

The Guardian - Business

The American Insurance Association says the risk of landslide is so difficult to predict that routine policies omit damage from such events.

The New York Times

Having lost our star players in Shane Long and Matt Mills over the summer, as well as the majority of our backline, it wasn't difficult to predict that we'd have a slow start.

The Guardian - Sport

"Unfortunately" future developments were so difficult to predict that it would become doubtful whether it is possible at all to draw lessons for today's governance.

European Journal of Futures Research

It is therefore not difficult to predict that the following steps will be taken: First, he will declare war on corruption.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Besides the obvious disadvantage of high treatment costs, such combinations likely have off target effects on the immune system in general, and on T cell in particular that currently are difficult to predict and that could be either beneficial or toxic.

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology

"The criminal investigation is going on, and it is very difficult to predict when that will be over," Mr. Krause said.

The New York Times

"The problem is it's very, very difficult to predict when that will occur".

Vice

Death Toll Rises on Egypt's "Day of Anger".

Vice

Nevertheless, separase has acquired additional activities in major eukaryotic taxa, making the complete functional roles of the protein in one organism difficult to predict from that of another.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to predict that", ensure the context clearly establishes what makes the prediction challenging. Specify the factors contributing to the uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to predict that" when some level of prediction is still possible. If trends or partial data exist, qualify the difficulty rather than implying complete unpredictability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to predict that" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a clause, indicating a level of uncertainty or doubt about the veracity or likelihood of the content within that clause. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, supported by various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to predict that" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate uncertainty about a future event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and professional settings, although it appears more frequently in news and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context about what makes the prediction difficult and avoid overstating the uncertainty when some level of prediction is still possible. Remember, alternatives like "hard to foresee that" or "challenging to anticipate that" can offer subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to foresee that

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "predict" with "foresee", maintaining the same meaning with slightly different vocabulary.

challenging to anticipate that

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "predict" with "anticipate", adding a nuance of complexity to the prediction.

not easy to anticipate that

Uses a negative construction ("not easy") to convey difficulty, combined with "anticipate" for prediction.

unlikely to expect that

Shifts the focus to the likelihood of an expectation, rather than the difficulty of prediction.

improbable to assume that

Emphasizes the low probability of assuming something to be true.

doubtful to forecast that

Highlights the doubt associated with making a forecast.

uncertain to project that

Focuses on the uncertainty involved in projecting a future outcome.

tenuous to extrapolate that

Suggests that any extrapolation would be weakly supported.

risky to speculate that

Highlights the risk associated with making a speculative prediction.

conjectural to surmise that

Indicates that any conclusion is based on conjecture rather than firm evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to predict that" in a sentence?

Use "difficult to predict that" to express uncertainty about a future outcome or event. For example, "It is "difficult to predict that" the new policy will be successful."

What can I say instead of "difficult to predict that"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to foresee that", "challenging to anticipate that", or "not easy to anticipate that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficult to predict that"?

Yes, "difficult to predict that" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to indicate uncertainty about a future event or outcome. Ludwig AI also confirms this.

What's the difference between "difficult to predict that" and "impossible to predict that"?

"Difficult to predict that" implies a degree of uncertainty but suggests some prediction might still be attempted. "Impossible to predict that", on the other hand, indicates that prediction is entirely out of the question.