difficult to refer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to refer" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express that something is hard to reference or cite, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "The information in the report is difficult to refer to without proper context."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

For example, it is difficult to refer to Muslims as the "other" when they are part of the discussion thread.

The Guardian - Opinion

Accordingly, it may be difficult to refer and utilize them as fundamental design concepts for ship designers or as operational guidelines for ship operators.

Marine Structures

Accordingly, it may be difficult to refer and utilize them as the fundamental design concepts for ship designers or the operational guidelines for ship operators.

Marine Structures

Eighty-seven per cent said they were finding it more difficult to refer people to legal aid solicitors than six years ago and 76% of organisations that responded said they found it either quite difficult or very difficult to refer people on to legal aid solicitors.

The Guardian

This is probably due to the fact that the young age of child made difficult to refer and therefore to recognize transient visual or oto-neurological symptoms [15 19]; moreover the follow-up was not long enough to establish if the patient will develop posterior fossa symptoms or signs within 5 years, as reported in the study by Pascual et al. [5].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It is difficult to refer to what dogs, as a collective, like and dislike and how they behave.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

He has joined the Lotus team - whom most in F1 still find it difficult not to refer to as Renault, their identity since 2002.

BBC

It is difficult however to refer chromoviruses simply as Metaviridae elements because, as we show, they constitute the largest phylogenetic branch in the Ty3/Gypsy family, while the remaining Ty3/Gypsy retroviruses and LTR retrotransposons (including the Errantiviridae) fall in another branch.

Biology Direct

And they typically find it difficult or impossible to refer uninsured patients, a large part of their clientele, to other health care providers for diagnostic tests like mammograms and colonoscopies or visits to cardiologists and other specialists.

The New York Times

The difference in units makes it difficult for us to refer to their data.

JA Clinical Reports

Mr. Pellicano spoke last and had a difficult time remembering to refer to himself in the third person.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider whether "difficult to reference" or "hard to cite" would be more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to "difficult to refer".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to refer" when you mean something is hard to reference or cite. Rephrasing can improve clarity and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to refer" acts as an adjective phrase describing the level of complexity associated with making a reference. Despite its usage, Ludwig AI suggests that it's not correct in standard written English, indicating a need for alternatives to enhance clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "difficult to refer" appears in various contexts, particularly in scientific and news domains, it is flagged by Ludwig AI as not being entirely correct in standard written English. Its purpose is to express the complexity in referencing or citing something. Given this assessment, it's advisable to use more precise alternatives like "hard to reference" or "challenging to cite". These alternatives offer better clarity and grammatical correctness, ensuring effective communication across different writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to reference

Focuses on the difficulty in providing a reference or citation for something.

challenging to cite

Highlights the challenge involved in properly citing or attributing a source.

complicated to allude to

Emphasizes the complexity in making an indirect reference or allusion.

tough to attribute

Stresses the difficulty in assigning credit or origin to something.

problematic to point to

Indicates issues in directing attention or referring specifically to something.

not easy to source

Highlights the lack of easily available sources or references.

involves intricate citation

Focuses more on the action involved in giving reference.

requires detailed referencing

Focuses more on the need for providing more precise or comprehensive reference.

presents referencing obstacles

Directly describes the expression with its equivalent "reference" expression and specifies it's and obstacle.

poses attribution issues

Directly describes the expression with its equivalent "attribution" expression and specifies it's an issue.

FAQs

What does "difficult to refer" mean?

The phrase "difficult to refer" is generally intended to mean something is hard to reference or cite. However, it's often considered awkward and grammatically questionable. Consider using alternatives like "difficult to reference" or "hard to cite" for clarity.

How can I rephrase "difficult to refer" to sound more natural?

Instead of "difficult to refer", try using phrases like "hard to reference", "challenging to cite", or "complicated to allude to" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "difficult to refer" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "difficult to refer" is not considered correct in standard written English. While it appears in some contexts, it's often better to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to refer"?

While not recommended, "difficult to refer" might be used in informal contexts. However, in academic, professional, or formal writing, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "hard to reference" or "problematic to point to" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.