difficult to sort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to sort" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that presents challenges in organizing or categorizing items or information. Example: "The data set was so large and complex that it became difficult to sort through all the entries efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"But then it became difficult to sort of defend stuff.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's difficult to sort out science from the belief".

The New York Times - Health

His other claims are equally difficult to sort out.

The New York Times

It can be difficult to sort out the taxonomy.

The New York Times

"These are issues that are difficult to sort out.

The New York Times

This material is of great complexity and variety and is difficult to sort out.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At least two factors will make it difficult to sort out what happened.

The New York Times

But some disputes could be difficult to sort out, analysts say.

The New York Times - Tech

The great thing about living in London is that this, too, isn't difficult to sort.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On some days, it is difficult to sort out the criminals from the noncriminals.

The New York Times

In such paintings it can be difficult to sort out the contribution of one artist from another.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to sort" to describe information, consider providing context about why it's challenging, such as the volume, complexity, or conflicting nature of the data. This adds clarity and depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to sort" in situations where simpler phrases like "hard to understand" or "challenging to find" would suffice. Reserve it for contexts where the sorting process itself is genuinely complex or problematic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to sort" primarily functions as an adjective phrase followed by a verb and preposition, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the characteristic of something being challenging to organize or categorize. As seen in the Ludwig examples, this phrase commonly introduces a problem or obstacle.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to sort" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that is challenging to organize, categorize, or differentiate. As confirmed by Ludwig, it frequently appears in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, remember to provide context and avoid overuse in simple situations. Alternatives like "hard to categorize" or "challenging to distinguish" may be more appropriate depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to categorize

Emphasizes the difficulty in placing items into specific categories.

challenging to distinguish

Highlights the problem of telling the difference between things.

complicated to separate

Focuses on the complexity of dividing items into distinct groups.

not easy to differentiate

Indicates a lack of simplicity in telling things apart.

tough to make sense of

Stresses the problem of understanding something confusing.

hard to make heads or tails of

An idiom suggesting something is very confusing and challenging to understand.

difficult to discern

Focuses on the challenge of perceiving or recognizing something clearly.

problematic to classify

Highlights the issues associated with putting things into groups.

not straightforward to organize

Indicates a lack of ease in arranging things in a structured manner.

bewildering to arrange

Emphasizes the confusing aspect of organizing a collection of items.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to sort" when describing something that presents challenges in organizing or categorizing. For example: "Due to the large number of applications, it was "difficult to sort" through them all efficiently."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to sort"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "hard to categorize", "challenging to distinguish", or "complicated to separate".

Is it better to use "difficult to sort through" or "difficult to sort out"?

Both "difficult to sort through" and "difficult to sort out" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably, though "difficult to sort out" may be slightly more common when referring to abstract concepts like facts or claims.

What makes something "difficult to sort"?

Something can be "difficult to sort" due to various factors, including a large volume of items, a lack of clear criteria for categorization, overlapping characteristics between items, or conflicting information.