difficult to repeat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to repeat" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is hard to replicate or reproduce, whether it's a task, a performance, or an experience. Example: "The magician's trick was so intricate that it was difficult to repeat, even for those who had seen it performed multiple times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

It is very difficult to repeat this".

The New York Times - Sports

Brown's cure was spectacular, but difficult to repeat.

The New Yorker

"I think it will be difficult to repeat.

The New York Times - Sports

"It is very difficult to repeat 2011," he says, "but I believe that I can.

The Guardian - Sport

However, Jones said that the loss of made it more difficult to repeat the exercise.

The Guardian

Congress responded to this performance by making it difficult to repeat.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

It's difficult not to repeat certain figures and patterns.

The New Yorker

But it seems a difficult idea to repeat.

The Guardian - Music

Full de novo assembly of the mitochondrial genome can be very difficult due to repeat regions as well as its dynamic organization due to frequent recombination events.

BMC Plant Biology

This adds time, expense and it can be difficult to reproducibly repeat conjugations with similar efficiency; while manufacture of Pfs25-VLP in N. benthamiana requires a lot of time to grow sufficient plant biomass to purify large amounts of vaccine.

Nature

Patients are reluctant to have bone marrow tests more often than every 6 months, and thus it is difficult to even repeat the test to see whether the result is consistent.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to repeat" when you want to emphasize the unique circumstances or high level of skill required to achieve a particular outcome. For example, "The team's championship win was impressive, but analysts believe it will be "difficult to repeat" this season."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to repeat" when describing simple or easily achievable tasks. For example, saying "It's difficult to repeat brushing your teeth" is incorrect because it's a routine and straightforward action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to repeat" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, indicating the level of challenge associated with reproducing a specific action or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to repeat" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something challenging to replicate. Ludwig AI confirms it's appropriate in various contexts. It's most frequently found in news, science, and sports reporting, indicating events or achievements that are unlikely to occur again due to unique circumstances or exceptional effort. While alternatives like "hard to replicate" or "not easy to reproduce" exist, the best choice depends on the specific context. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the complexity and uniqueness of the situation being described to maintain clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to replicate

Focuses on the act of replication being challenging.

not easy to reproduce

Emphasizes the lack of ease in reproducing something.

unlikely to recur

Highlights the low probability of the event happening again.

tough to duplicate

Focuses on the difficulty in making an exact copy.

challenging to emulate

Highlights the difficulty of imitating or surpassing something.

a one-off occurrence

Stresses the uniqueness and non-repeatable nature of the event.

not replicable

States that the task or event cannot be replicated.

nearly impossible to duplicate

Emphasizes the almost insurmountable difficulty in duplicating something.

not sustainable

Highlights that the rate is challenging to keep up in the long term.

a fluke

Highlights that the event was pure luck and unlikely to be repeated.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to repeat" to describe an achievement, action, or result that is unlikely to be replicated. For instance, "The scientific breakthrough was remarkable, but researchers acknowledge it will be "hard to replicate"."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to repeat"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "hard to replicate", "not easy to reproduce", or "unlikely to recur" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more appropriate to say "difficult to repeat" or "difficult to replicate"?

Both "difficult to repeat" and "difficult to replicate" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. However, "difficult to replicate" may be preferred in scientific or technical contexts, while "difficult to repeat" is more general and suitable for broader usage.

What makes something "difficult to repeat"?

Several factors can make something "difficult to repeat", including unique circumstances, a high degree of skill, reliance on luck, or changes in conditions that make the original outcome unlikely to occur again. For example, the U.S. Navy achieved a degree of surprise that time which will be "difficult to repeat", by surface or air.