difficulty discerning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty discerning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges in understanding or identifying something clearly. Example: "Many students expressed their difficulty discerning the main themes of the novel during the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

We're not helped by the polarisation of the debate and the difficulty discerning evidence from ideology.

The Guardian

Their difficulty discerning unspoken cues might have made it harder to know if the attraction was mutual.

The New York Times

Ferman said that last year, even as renovations were concluding, the U.S.T.A. still had difficulty discerning "construction costs from operating expenses" and underestimated the costs of utilities and maintenance.

The New York Times - Sports

Young children, even would-be Rembrandts, might have difficulty discerning the fine distinctions in component images, and most teenagers would probably be more excited about a role-playing or an action game.

The New York Times - Tech

All along, Mr. Redden said, he had difficulty discerning whether the mixed signals he got from Bureau of Culture officials reflected a willingness to negotiate or a drawn-out rejection.

The New York Times

In Connecticut, a task force on liquefied natural gas appointed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell is nearly ready to send her its report, laying out the project's advantages and disadvantages for Connecticut, but members said they were having difficulty discerning whether the Broadwater gas would benefit the state.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Oliver (2005) ultimately suggests analyzing technologies as texts, but I have difficulties discerning this approach from plain affordance-analyses: In an analysis of the virtual world Second Life, Oliver (2013) attributes to a red rug on a green field the affordance of 'visible demarcation' between inside (speaking) and outside (listening) positions for student avatars.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

The diagnostic differences between pathologists in the PWG review of the methanol (EPL 2011b) and MTBE (EPL 2011c) RI studies appear to largely reflect difficulties discerning lymphoma in the lungs of infected rats, but other factors may have contributed as well.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Night blindness, restricted field of vision, difficulty in discerning colours and difficulty in light adaptation were the prominent symptoms in retinitis pigmentosa [40] and difficulty with central vision was the prominent symptom in macular dystrophies.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Although the commandos write of several Libyans who risked their lives to help the Americans, the difficulty of discerning friend from foe is a recurring theme.

The New York Times

There is a particular difficulty in discerning whether this book is good, not because the text qua text is somehow elusive or inscrutable but because one struggles to read it without sweeping for psychological clues.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficulty discerning", ensure the context clearly specifies what is hard to distinguish or understand. For example, "The witness had difficulty discerning the suspect's face in the dimly lit alley."

Common error

Avoid using "difficulty discerning" without a clear object or subject. Instead of saying "There was difficulty discerning", specify what the difficulty was related to. For instance, "There was difficulty discerning the truth from the misinformation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty discerning" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a challenge or problem related to perceiving or distinguishing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficulty discerning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that highlights a challenge in perceiving or distinguishing something. As per Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It is observed most frequently in news media and scientific sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is difficult to discern, avoiding vagueness. Alternatives such as "struggle to differentiate" or "challenge in identifying" can be used to add variety to your writing. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the phrase's usage, grammatical correctness, and contextual relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggle to differentiate

Emphasizes the effort required to distinguish between two or more things.

challenge in identifying

Highlights the problematic aspect of pinpointing or recognizing something.

hard to distinguish

Focuses on the inherent characteristics that make something not easy to tell apart.

problem in perceiving

Underlines the troubles connected with understanding by using senses.

unable to differentiate

Indicates the lack of aptitude to tell apart.

tough to recognize

Uses more informal wording to refer to challenges in acknowledging.

difficulty in perceiving

Emphasizes the sensory element in the challenge of understanding.

hard to understand

Focuses on comprehending, going beyond just visually discerning.

struggle to perceive

Underlines troubles by using senses and acknowledging.

challenge to differentiate

Highlights difficulty in being able to tell things apart.

FAQs

How to use "difficulty discerning" in a sentence?

Use "difficulty discerning" to describe a situation where someone or something struggles to distinguish or understand something clearly. For example, "The analyst had difficulty discerning the true intentions behind the company's statement."

What can I say instead of "difficulty discerning"?

You can use alternatives like "struggle to differentiate", "challenge in identifying", or "hard to distinguish" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "difficulty discerning" or "difficulty to discern"?

"Difficulty discerning" is more common and grammatically sound. "Difficulty to discern" is less frequently used and can sound awkward. It's better to use a gerund (discerning) after "difficulty".

What's the difference between "difficulty discerning" and "difficulty understanding"?

"Difficulty discerning" implies a challenge in distinguishing between two or more things, while "difficulty understanding" refers to a challenge in comprehending something. Discerning often involves visual or sensory input, while understanding can involve more abstract concepts.