difficult to reach

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to reach" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is hard to attain or achieve, or something that is physically or metaphorically challenging to access. Example: The mountaintop temple was difficult to reach, requiring a treacherous hike through rugged terrain. The company's elusive CEO was difficult to reach, constantly traveling for business and rarely responding to emails. The solution to the math problem was difficult to reach, causing the students to struggle for hours before finally figuring it out.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Which group was most difficult to reach?

The New York Times

Very moody, difficult to reach.

The Guardian

They often are difficult to reach.

The Washington Post

This may make it difficult to reach me by phone.

Yale University

Both provide solutions that could be difficult to reach otherwise.

Fuzzy Logic for Embedded Systems Applications

Specific conclusions as yet are difficult to reach.

Orthopedic Clinics of North America

Flooded roads make it difficult to reach these areas.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Due to the difficult-to-reach population of study subjects, the purposive sampling technique was used.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

; Cave 8 Cave 8 is a difficult-to-reach dwelling.

Wikipedia

Many communities are located in geographically difficult-to-reach areas.

BMC Public Health

Women's self-help groups managed the system, which interlinked difficult-to-reach areas with main roads.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group of people, consider specifying why they are "difficult to reach". Providing context will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to reach" without specifying what makes something or someone hard to reach. Add context to specify the challenge: geographical remoteness, communication barriers, or complex procedures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to reach" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the level of effort or challenge involved in attaining or contacting something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to reach" is a versatile phrase used to describe challenges in accessibility, contact, or attainment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. As demonstrated by the numerous examples, it's crucial to provide context specifying the reasons why something is "difficult to reach" to avoid overgeneralization and ensure clarity. While "difficult to reach" is suitable for a variety of registers, from formal academic writing to news reports, remember to tailor your choice of synonyms and related phrases to the specific context. Common alternatives include "hard to reach" and "challenging to access".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough to reach

Replaces "difficult" with "tough", implying a similar level of challenge.

hard to reach

Substitutes "difficult" with "hard", a direct synonym in this context.

out of reach

Uses a more figurative expression to denote something that cannot be attained or contacted.

challenging to access

Focuses on the accessibility aspect, highlighting the difficulty in getting to something.

inaccessible

Provides a single-word equivalent, emphasizing the lack of access.

not easily contacted

Specifically addresses the difficulty in making contact with someone.

unattainable

Highlights the impossibility of reaching a goal or standard.

presents a challenge to access

Emphasizes that reaching it requires effort and faces difficulties.

remote and isolated

Describes locations that are physically distant and secluded, making them hard to get to.

laborious to reach

Highlights the amount of effort and work needed to reach something.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "difficult to reach" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to reach" to describe a location that is hard to access, a person who is hard to contact, or a goal that is hard to achieve. For example: "The remote village was "difficult to reach" due to the lack of roads."

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hard to reach", "challenging to access", "inaccessible", or "unattainable".

Is it correct to say "hard to reach" instead of "difficult to reach"?

Yes, "hard to reach" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used alternative to "difficult to reach". They are largely interchangeable.

When should I use "difficult to reach" versus "impossible to reach"?

"Difficult to reach" implies that something is challenging but potentially achievable, while "impossible to reach" suggests that it cannot be done under any circumstances. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the level of challenge.