difficulty to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty to comprehend" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "difficulty in comprehending" or "difficulty in understanding." Example: "Many students experience difficulty in comprehending complex mathematical concepts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, patients and care providers often have difficulties to comprehend this sort of information [ 23, 24].

BMC Family Practice

The difficulty is to comprehend 'the difficulty.' " For Johnson, the difficulty was grasping that in much of America, if not yet the Deep South, the "average man" now opposed Jim Crow.

The New York Times

Seeing that a bulk of expectations are required from them to meet and the difficulty to accurately comprehend some of the expectations stated in the descriptors make delivering speeches more challenging to them, making them restless and tensed with their performances.

Language Testing in Asia

The instructors were also invited to describe the specific areas in which their students tend to experience the most difficulty when trying to comprehend diffusion and osmosis.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Excluded were participants with PVC collection time exceeding 20 s, difficulty of venoclysis, or who presented with arteriovenous fistula and language difficulties, which made it impossible to comprehend the informed consent, in critical condition or altered state of consciousness with no family to consent.

BMJ Open

In order to understand this discord, it is crucial to comprehend the difficulties and patient-specific concerns associated with the surgical exposure of this region.

EBioMedicine

And the very nature of the difficulty is so hard for me to comprehend.

The New York Times

The organisational difficulties encountered by GPs highlight the need for further studies to comprehend the nature of these difficulties and to suggest solutions suited to the local setting.

BMC Cancer

Yet, they are produced by professional filmmakers for broad entertainment audiences using popular techniques believed to ease viewing and comprehension processes (Smith, 2012), and people seem to comprehend them with little difficulty.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

This approach is equalent to the Guyatt's responsiveness ratio,... ........... Clinical practice is confronted with the difficulty that clinicians need to be able to comprehend and apply the concepts of responsiveness of assessment instruments in daily routine.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Individuals with this form of aphasia are able to comprehend speech but have great difficulty expressing their thoughts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "difficulty in comprehending" or "difficulty understanding" instead of "difficulty to comprehend" for grammatical correctness. For example, "Many students experience difficulty in comprehending complex mathematical concepts."

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "difficulty" when referring to understanding something. The correct preposition is "in". Instead of saying "difficulty to comprehend", use "difficulty in comprehending" or "difficulty understanding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty to comprehend" functions as a connector, indicating a challenge or obstacle related to understanding something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "difficulty to comprehend" aims to convey a challenge in understanding, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The correct alternatives are "difficulty in comprehending" or "difficulty understanding". When writing or speaking, it's best to use the grammatically correct options or simpler alternatives like "hard to understand" to ensure clarity and professionalism. Though found across various sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and scientific publications, its infrequency suggests it's best avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficulty in understanding

Uses the correct preposition "in" and the gerund "understanding" to form a grammatically sound phrase.

hard to understand

A more direct and simpler way to express the same concept, suitable for informal contexts.

tough to understand

A more colloquial way of saying "hard to understand".

challenging to grasp

Emphasizes the effort required to understand something, implying a more active process.

difficult to grasp

Implies a struggle to fully understand or internalize an idea or concept.

hard to fathom

Suggests something is deeply mysterious or complex, making it hard to comprehend.

difficult to make out

Focuses on the lack of clarity, either physically or conceptually.

beyond comprehension

Indicates something is impossible to understand, exceeding one's ability to grasp it.

problem understanding

Emphasizes the issue or problem rather than the difficulty.

incomprehensible nature

Highlights the intrinsic quality of something being impossible to understand.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "difficulty to comprehend"?

The grammatically correct ways to express this idea are "difficulty in comprehending" or "difficulty understanding". For example: "Many students experience "difficulty in comprehending" complex mathematical concepts".

What can I say instead of "difficulty to comprehend"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to understand", "challenging to grasp", or "difficult to grasp" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "difficulty to comprehend" or "difficulty in comprehending"?

"Difficulty in comprehending" is the grammatically correct phrase. "Difficulty to comprehend" is considered incorrect in standard written English.

What is the difference between "difficulty in comprehending" and "hard to understand"?

"Difficulty in comprehending" is more formal and emphasizes the challenge of understanding, while "hard to understand" is simpler and more direct.