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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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difficult to teach

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It made it really difficult to teach".

News & Media

The New York Times

"It's actually very difficult to teach," she said.

"It's very difficult to teach hungry children," says Musorowegomo.

News & Media

The Guardian

The practice of global health is difficult to teach from a US-based classroom.

It is often regarded as a fuzzy concept which is difficult to teach and learn.

Moreover, these new directions are very difficult to teach, at least in the current environment.

"Forceps deliveries are very difficult to teach — much more difficult than a C-section," Bowes said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Further Questions for Discussion: -Do you think it would be difficult to teach others about slavery?

News & Media

The New York Times

She said it was difficult to teach pupils suffering the problems of living in the camp.

News & Media

The Guardian

It's difficult to teach English, but they're so grateful for any kind of help.

The art of it is invisible, indefinable, difficult to teach or pass on.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, pairing this phrase with a specific 'why' (e.g., 'due to its abstract nature') enhances the clarity and professional tone of your argument.

Common error

Do not use "difficult to teach" as a synonym for "difficult to learn" in every context. While they are related, 'difficult to teach' focuses on the educator's pedagogical struggle, whereas 'difficult to learn' focuses on the student's cognitive load.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to teach" functions as an adjective followed by an infinitive complement. In this construction, the adjective 'difficult' modifies the subject of the sentence, while the infinitive 'to teach' specifies the action in which the difficulty lies. According to Ludwig, this is a standard and highly effective way to describe pedagogical challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to teach" is a versatile and grammatically robust tool for educators, researchers and journalists. Ludwig data demonstrates that it is used across a wide spectrum of disciplines—from the medical sciences describing surgical procedures to social sciences discussing empathy and ethics. The core value of the phrase lies in its ability to pinpoint the friction in the relationship between teacher, student and subject matter. When using it, remember that it specifically highlights the process of instruction. If the focus is instead on the student's struggle to grasp the concept, alternatives like "hard to comprehend" might be more appropriate. Overall, Ludwig AI confirms that this is a high-utility phrase that maintains professional credibility in any writing context.

FAQs

How to use "difficult to teach" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe subjects or students, such as "Creative writing is notoriously difficult to teach in a traditional classroom setting" or "Hungry children are often very difficult to teach."

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

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "tricky to impart", "challenging to convey" or "hard to instill".

Is it correct to say "difficult in teaching"?

No, if you want to describe a subject that is hard to explain, "difficult to teach" is the standard grammatical structure. "Difficulties in teaching" is a noun phrase used to describe broader professional obstacles.

What is the difference between "difficult to teach" and "hard to explain"?

While "hard to explain" focuses on the verbal transmission of an idea, "difficult to teach" encompasses the entire pedagogical process, including demonstration, practice and assessment.

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Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: