difficult to retain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to retain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing information, skills, or memories that are hard to remember or keep in mind. Example: "The complex theories presented in the lecture were difficult to retain, even after multiple reviews."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Early on, the company found it difficult to retain instructors.

The New York Times - Magazine

And it was probably more difficult to retain the Ashes than they thought.

The Guardian - Sport

Seasoned switchers who arrive from price-comparison sites are difficult to retain.

The Economist

This is a national issue, these are high-pressure jobs and it is difficult to retain people in certain positions".

The Guardian

Unfortunately, there are a wide variety of obstacles to repeat donation and new donors are extremely difficult to retain.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

He said it would be difficult to retain his title, especially with the elimination of the Vail Pass time trial.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile, the employers with coverage would find it more difficult to retain and attract low-income employees.

The New York Times

The way we structure our teaching can trap students in conventional models of passive learning and make it difficult to retain information long-term.

University of California, Berkeley

Noting the effects of previous state cuts on students, staff and faculty, he warned that it is becoming increasingly difficult to retain top faculty.

University of California, Berkeley

Mr. Mason said he found it more difficult to retain employees with about two years' experience than to find talented entry-level employees.

The New York Times

"Really good tech employees are difficult to find, difficult to retain and difficult to consistently manage as it is a super competitive field with high wages," he explains.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employee turnover, use "difficult to retain" to highlight the challenges in keeping valued staff members, suggesting deeper issues within the company culture or compensation structure.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to retain" when the issue is about obtaining something new, not maintaining something already possessed. For example, it's incorrect to say "It's difficult to retain new customers" – a better phrase would be "difficult to acquire new customers."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to retain" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, describing the degree of challenge associated with maintaining or keeping something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

6%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to retain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys the challenge of maintaining something. As Ludwig AI points out, its widespread presence across diverse sources, including news media, scientific journals, academic papers and business communication demonstrates its versatility. While context dictates the best synonym – from "hard to keep" to "challenging to maintain" – understanding common misuse, such as applying the phrase to acquiring rather than keeping, is crucial for precise communication. Using "difficult to retain" properly can enhance the clarity of conveying problems related to retention in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to preserve

Shares the same structure but focuses on preserving something over time.

hard to keep

Focuses on the general difficulty of maintaining possession or a state.

challenging to maintain

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the maintenance process.

tough to hold onto

Highlights the struggle of preventing something from being lost.

tricky to preserve

Focuses on the need for careful handling to maintain something.

not easy to maintain

A more direct and simple way of expressing the difficulty.

demanding to sustain

Highlights the continuous effort required for something to endure.

requires effort to keep

Shifts the focus to the active effort needed to maintain something.

presents a retention challenge

Formalizes the difficulty as a problem or obstacle to overcome.

retention is problematic

Highlights the issues associated with retaining something.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to retain" when referring to the challenge of keeping something, such as "It is difficult to retain top talent in a competitive market" or "The details of the lecture were difficult to retain after a long day".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to retain"?

Some alternatives include "hard to keep", "challenging to maintain", or "tough to hold onto", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "difficult to retain" or "hard to retain"?

"Difficult to retain" and "hard to retain" are largely interchangeable, with "difficult" sounding slightly more formal. The best choice depends on the tone you wish to convey.

What makes something "difficult to retain"?

Something might be "difficult to retain" due to its complexity, volatility, or the presence of competing factors. For example, information can be "difficult to retain" if it's complex, while employees can be "difficult to retain" if the job market is competitive.