difficult to seek

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to seek" is grammatically correct but may not be the most natural expression in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is hard to find or obtain, though it might be more common to use other phrases. Example: "In today's fast-paced world, it can be difficult to seek genuine connections with others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

When an accident does occur, it can be difficult to seek even meager justice.

The New York Times - Books

This makes it extremely difficult to seek redress and points to widespread tax avoidance by employers.

The Guardian

"It won't be difficult to seek a favourable opinion from the council either way," Mr Yusufzai said.

The Guardian

Many people have no formal education and cannot converse in Mandarin, making it difficult to seek employment in cities on their own.

The New York Times

"That makes it difficult to seek votes from Hispanics, African-Americans, single women, yet Republicans need to do that in order to grow".

The New York Times

The charity is the only one of its kind in the UK, with survivors of domestic violence reporting to the service that the find it difficult to seek help from domestic violence services not aimed at the LGBT community.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

The ongoing trial is an important step in the global fight against female genital mutilation (FGM), women's rights advocates say, but also underlines the persistence of the tradition and the difficult struggle to seek accountability for victims.

Independent

On our side, we cannot help but think that the case might not be isolated and that such placements of documents is deliberate to make discovery difficult and to seek to shield documents by placing them in private homes.

The New York Times

Joumana, 33, made the same difficult journey to seek medical treatment for her two children aged seven and nine, who both suffer from a skin condition.

Huffington Post

"When I'm curious about something, it's difficult to not seek out security problems," he said.

Los Angeles Times

Next time you despair over a failing print, know that it's a lot more difficult to actively seek out that melted-and-misshapen finish or just call it glitch art and give it a whole new sense of worth. .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to seek", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Alternatives like "hard to find" or "challenging to obtain" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "difficult to seek" can sound somewhat unnatural. Vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition and enhance the flow of your writing. Use synonyms like "challenging" or "hard".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to seek" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to modify a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is challenging to find, obtain, or achieve. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct, though perhaps not always the most natural choice.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to seek" is used to express that something is challenging to find or obtain. While grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, it might not always be the most idiomatic choice. It commonly appears in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral register. When writing, consider if alternative phrases like "hard to find" or "challenging to obtain" might be more appropriate for a natural flow. While "difficult to seek" is valid, be mindful of overuse and strive for varied vocabulary in your writing. The term "difficult to seek" is a useful phrase, but you should be aware of other options that may be more suitable to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to obtain

Focuses on the challenge of acquiring or getting something.

challenging to find

Emphasizes the difficulty in locating or discovering something.

tough to come by

Suggests scarcity and the effort required to acquire something.

not easily accessible

Highlights the barriers to reaching or obtaining something.

laborious to procure

Implies a great deal of effort and work is needed to secure something. It sounds very formal.

demanding to acquire

Highlights the requirements and effort needed.

a struggle to locate

Indicates that finding something involves considerable difficulty and effort.

not readily available

Emphasizes the lack of immediate access to something.

complex to attain

Highlights the complicated nature of achieving or getting something. It is more suitable for intangible things.

hard to unearth

Implies difficulty in uncovering or discovering something hidden or obscure.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to seek" to describe something that is not easy to find or obtain, such as "It can be difficult to seek justice in such cases."

What can I say instead of "difficult to seek"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to find", "challenging to obtain", or "tough to come by" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "difficult to seek" or "hard to find"?

"Hard to find" is generally more common and natural-sounding in everyday English, while "difficult to seek" can be used but may sound slightly more formal or less direct.

What makes something "difficult to seek"?

Various factors can make something "difficult to seek", including scarcity, complexity, lack of resources, or systemic barriers that impede access or discovery.