difficulty in comprehending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty in comprehending" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges or obstacles someone faces in understanding a concept or information. Example: "Many students experience difficulty in comprehending complex mathematical theories."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

If there is an UNDERLYING difficulty in comprehending complex language, how does everything fit together?

Columbia University

Mr Robinson is also reported as saying that "the problem is that the United States is an idealistic and moral country and its citizens have great difficulty in comprehending the kinds of problems faced by Argentina today".

The Guardian

Officials attributed the lack of awareness about the law to the difficulty in comprehending how a young woman could hide nine months of pregnancy, then leave a newborn to die.

The New York Times

However, the indoor thermal design is not usually performed in a very efficient manner by stakeholders, due to the limitations of a sequential waterfall design process model, and due to the difficulty in comprehending the CFD simulation results for stakeholders.

Journal of Computational Design and Engineering

Consumers can often suffer a difficulty in comprehending moral issues in aggregated scenarios.

Forbes

He has difficulty in comprehending a man who saw America's greatness in having built and sustained international institutions.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

This conceptual framework might help explain why individuals with autism have difficulties in comprehending action sequences when they have to rely exclusively on motor cues23,24.

Nature

We use the notion of 'holism' to explore the difficulties in comprehending the span of change in contemporary business, presenting 'holistic risk' as a vital but aspirational construct transcending boundaries, functions and disciplines.

The International Journal of Management Education

"I was very impressed by the book [for illustrating] the difficulties in comprehending the way of interconnecting dimensions and the inter-dimensional transition," Büyüktaş says.

Vice

"I was very impressed by the book written in 1884 exemplifying the difficulties in comprehending the way of interconnecting the dimensions and the inter-dimensional transition.

Vice

Difficulties in comprehending the complex host country's health system may also enhance the preference to seek help in hospitals.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficulty in comprehending", ensure the subject and object of comprehension are clear. For example, specify "difficulty in comprehending complex financial reports" rather than just "difficulty in comprehending".

Common error

Avoid using "difficulty in comprehending" when simpler phrases like "hard to understand" would suffice. Overly formal language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty in comprehending" functions as a noun phrase, where "difficulty" serves as the head noun and "in comprehending" acts as a prepositional phrase modifying it. It describes a challenge or obstacle related to the action of understanding something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficulty in comprehending" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote a challenge in understanding something. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. While it appears across diverse contexts, it's especially prevalent in science, news media, and academic writing. When writing, clarity is key: ensure the subject and object of comprehension are clear, and consider simpler alternatives for less formal situations. While related phrases like "struggle to understand" exist, "difficulty in comprehending" maintains its place as a reliable and precise expression for indicating comprehension challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenges in understanding

Focuses on the obstacles to understanding rather than the difficulty itself.

encountering difficulty understanding

Highlights the experience of running into obstacles during the process of understanding.

struggle to understand

Implies a sustained effort to achieve comprehension, suggesting a more active process than simply having difficulty.

find it hard to understand

Expresses the difficulty as a personal experience or perception.

difficulty grasping

Emphasizes the act of seizing or capturing an idea, adding a sense of elusiveness.

having trouble understanding

Similar to "hard time understanding", but perhaps slightly more formal.

problems understanding

A more general way of referring to comprehension issues.

hard time understanding

A more informal way of expressing difficulty, suitable for less formal contexts.

challenged in understanding

Suggests that the complexity of the subject matter is causing one to feel challenged.

lacking comprehension

Focuses on the absence of understanding rather than the struggle to achieve it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "difficulty in comprehending" to sound less formal?

Consider using phrases like "hard to understand", "having trouble understanding", or "struggling to understand" for a more casual tone.

What's the difference between "difficulty in comprehending" and "difficulty in understanding"?

While similar, "difficulty in comprehending" often implies a more complex or abstract understanding, whereas "difficulty in understanding" can apply to simpler concepts. Both are valid, but context matters.

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficulty to comprehend" instead of "difficulty in comprehending"?

While "difficulty to comprehend" might be understood, it's less common and can sound awkward. "Difficulty in comprehending" is the more standard and grammatically sound option.

What are some contexts where "difficulty in comprehending" is particularly appropriate?

"Difficulty in comprehending" is well-suited for formal writing, academic discussions, or situations where you need to convey a specific challenge in grasping complex information or abstract concepts.