difficult to suppose that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to suppose that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing skepticism or doubt about a particular idea or assumption. Example: "Given the evidence presented, it is difficult to suppose that the theory holds true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But it's difficult to suppose that God has nothing to do with the deliberations of church bodies.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is difficult to suppose that the trip to visit his wife and children in Dubai could restore instant harmony, regardless of the poolside photographs.

The Guardian - Sport

"In a country that has been devastated like Argentina, it is very difficult to suppose that we can tolerate a floating dollar," Mr. Fernández said in a radio interview.

The New York Times

It is difficult to suppose that smiles or holes have this sort of determinate identity.

SEP

Because it is difficult to suppose that the entire reservoir is isotropic, owing to the presence of faults and fractures, we applied the diffusion equation to clusters Mqs1, 2, and 3.

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"It is difficult to suppose," Elliot writes, "that an art as prolific and expert as that of the Islamic world was driven by no more than a desire to impress the eye alone.

The New York Times - Books

A party for dalits, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), won a big majority.In difficult times it would be reasonable to suppose that Congress is in for a hiding in the coming election.

The Economist

Nevertheless, Descartes insisted that it was geometry that influenced him here: "Those long chains composed of very simple and easy reasonings, which geometers customarily use to arrive at their most difficult demonstrations, had given me occasion to suppose that all the things which can fall under human knowledge are interconnected in the same way".

SEP

This evidence led us to suppose that amplification might be difficult because of the risk to obtain non-specific amplification.

BMC Genomics

Follow MIte Miksche on Twitter.

Vice

It's difficult to see the connection between "Ahmed and Saddamam" but I suppose that's the thing ignorance is made of.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to suppose that" to introduce a counter-argument or express polite disagreement, particularly when acknowledging another viewpoint.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions when using "difficult to suppose that". Ensure the sentence maintains clarity and doesn't obscure the actor or cause of the difficulty. Rather than "It is difficult to suppose that a solution will be found", consider "It is difficult to suppose that they will find a solution".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to suppose that" functions as an epistemic qualifier. It introduces a statement expressing doubt or uncertainty about a proposition. The phrase is used to soften a disagreement or to indicate a lack of strong belief.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to suppose that" serves as a polite and nuanced way to express skepticism or doubt. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. While its frequency is relatively rare, its usage is consistent across news media, scientific publications, and formal communication. Remember to use this phrase when you want to question an assumption without being overly assertive and in order to soften a disagreement. Consider related phrases like "hard to imagine that" or "difficult to believe that" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to imagine that

Replaces "difficult to suppose" with "hard to imagine", emphasizing the imaginative aspect of disbelief.

difficult to believe that

Substitutes "suppose" with "believe", focusing on the lack of conviction or trust in something.

unlikely to assume that

Replaces "difficult" with "unlikely" and "suppose" with "assume", suggesting a low probability of something being true.

implausible to think that

Uses "implausible" instead of "difficult", highlighting the lack of credibility or feasibility.

scarcely credible that

Employs "scarcely credible", intensifying the doubt and questioning the believability of something.

doubtful to presume that

Replaces "difficult" with "doubtful" and "suppose" with "presume", expressing a lack of certainty about an assumption.

hardly conceivable that

Utilizes "hardly conceivable", emphasizing the difficulty in imagining or grasping something.

it strains credulity to think that

Expresses that a belief in something taxes one's ability to believe something.

it's questionable to assume that

Indicates that it's uncertain whether a assumption is accurate or not.

one can scarcely imagine that

Implies that one can barely or hardly picture or conceive of something, indicating disbelief.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to suppose that" in writing?

Use "difficult to suppose that" when you want to express skepticism or doubt about something without being overly assertive. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts.

What are some alternatives to "difficult to suppose that"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to imagine that", "difficult to believe that", or "unlikely to assume that" depending on the context.

Is "difficult to suppose that" a formal or informal expression?

"Difficult to suppose that" is generally considered a formal expression, suitable for academic writing, professional communication, and journalistic contexts. More informal alternatives exist for casual conversation.

How does the meaning of "difficult to suppose that" differ from "I don't think that"?

"Difficult to suppose that" is a more polite and indirect way of expressing disagreement or doubt compared to "I don't think that". It suggests that there are reasons to question something, rather than simply stating a personal opinion.