difficult to provide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to provide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges in supplying information, resources, or assistance. Example: "Due to the complexity of the project, it is often difficult to provide accurate estimates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It would be more difficult to provide cards to those under age 21.

The New York Times

"Since meat and cheese are rationed, sandwiches may be a little difficult to provide.

The New Yorker

"It's difficult to provide a meaningful forecast," said Steve McGowan, Sun's chief financial officer.

The New York Times

Is it really so difficult to provide these eight troops with better food?

The New York Times

The poorest remained in those centres, and it became difficult to provide adequate education.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's impossible to generalise, making it incredibly difficult to provide support to those affected by it.

Independent

It is more difficult to provide this type of information with instrumental techniques.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lower roof heights make it increasingly difficult to provide the clearance needed for soft springs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It will be difficult to provide adequate paramilitary forces for election purposes and for the IPL.

Independent

"From the start of the shift it was very difficult to provide a safe and satisfactory standard of care.

The Guardian

His caseload, they suggest, must make it more difficult to provide the care and attention that his clients expect.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to provide", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the provision challenging, for example, limited resources, complex logistics, or lack of expertise.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to provide" without specifying why it's difficult. Instead of saying, "It's difficult to provide", specify the challenge: "It's difficult to provide adequate funding due to budget constraints".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to provide" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the degree of ease or challenge associated with supplying or offering something. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to provide" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase indicating challenges in supplying resources, information, or services. Ludwig AI confirms this, and the phrase's prevalence across various sources like news, scientific articles, and encyclopedias attests to its versatility. When using this phrase, be specific about the reasons for the difficulty to ensure clarity. Alternatives such as "challenging to supply" or "hard to furnish" can offer nuanced variations, but it's important to choose the one that best fits the context. Finally, remember that precision and clarity are key to effectively communicating the nature of the challenge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging to supply

This alternative replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "provide" with "supply", suggesting a demanding but potentially achievable task.

hard to furnish

"Hard" replaces "difficult", and "furnish" replaces "provide", implying a struggle in supplying something.

problematic to offer

"Problematic" indicates that there are issues associated with offering something, similar to the difficulty in providing it.

complicated to deliver

"Complicated" emphasizes the complexity, and "deliver" shifts the focus to the act of delivering or providing.

unwieldy to administer

"Unwieldy" suggests the difficulty arises from the management or administration of providing something.

cumbersome to allocate

"Cumbersome" highlights the burdensome nature of allocating resources, similar to difficulties in providing.

trying to arrange

Replaces "difficult" with the adjective "trying" and "provide" with the action of "arrange", implying that the action is a test of one's abilities.

awkward to procure

"Awkward" suggests a lack of elegance or ease, while "procure" emphasizes the effort required to obtain and provide.

not easy to generate

Replacing "difficult" with "not easy" and "provide" with "generate" softens the expression, focusing on the lack of ease in creating or providing something.

inconvenient to make available

This alternative replaces "difficult" with "inconvenient" and "provide" with "make available", suggesting that supplying is troublesome.

FAQs

What does "difficult to provide" mean?

The phrase "difficult to provide" indicates that there are obstacles or challenges in supplying, offering, or making something available, be it resources, information, or services.

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

You might say, "Due to the economic downturn, it's "difficult to provide" adequate social services", illustrating a challenge in supplying necessary resources.

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult to provide"?

Alternatives include "challenging to supply", "hard to furnish", or "problematic to offer", depending on the specific context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "difficult to provide"?

This phrase is suitable when you want to express that fulfilling a need or requirement faces significant obstacles, making the act of providing a challenge. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.