difficult to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'difficult to understand' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence: "The lecture was difficult to understand due to the professor's thick accent."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's difficult to understand".

The New York Times

It isn't difficult to understand.

Independent

He's difficult to understand".

The Guardian

"It's difficult to understand," Wardak said.

The New York Times - Magazine

This was not so difficult to understand.

Independent

"But the player is difficult to understand.

The New York Times - Sports

This reasoning is difficult to understand.

The New Yorker

"It's difficult to understand, all this violence.

The New York Times

Their hostility was difficult to understand".

The New York Times - Arts

Their attitude is not difficult to understand.

The New York Times - Food

Is the message difficult to understand?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "difficult to understand", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the difficulty. Be specific to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to understand" without providing context. Saying "the topic is difficult to understand" is less helpful than specifying which aspects are confusing or for whom it is difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to understand" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality or state of being not easily comprehended. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

17%

Reference

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to understand" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to denote a lack of easy comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It's prevalent across diverse contexts, including news, scientific, and academic writing, suggesting a neutral register. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify what aspects are causing the difficulty. Alternatives like "hard to grasp" or "not easily understood" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. By providing context and avoiding overgeneralizations, one can effectively use "difficult to understand" to communicate comprehension challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not easily understood

Highlights the lack of straightforwardness in understanding.

hard to grasp

Focuses on the mental effort required to comprehend something.

challenging to comprehend

Emphasizes the complexity and intellectual demand involved.

complicated to fathom

Highlights the intricacy and depth of something needing understanding.

beyond my comprehension

Indicates that something is outside one's ability to understand.

incomprehensible

Suggests a complete inability to understand.

puzzling

Suggests that something is confusing and hard to explain.

obscure

Indicates a lack of clarity and directness.

knotty

Indicates that something is intricately complex and difficult to resolve or understand.

opaque

Implies that something is not transparent or clear in its meaning.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to understand" to describe something that is not easily grasped or comprehended. For example: "The theory was "difficult to understand" due to its complexity".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to understand"?

Alternatives include "hard to grasp", "not easily understood", or "challenging to comprehend", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

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

Both "difficult to understand" and "hard to understand" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context. There is no significant difference in their impact.

What makes something "difficult to understand"?

Something can be "difficult to understand" due to its complexity, abstractness, poor explanation, or lack of prior knowledge. It often implies a need for more effort or clarification to achieve comprehension.