easy to miss

USAGE SUMMARY

'easy to miss' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are trying to explain that something is not easily noticed or easily seen. For example: "The small piece of lint on the floor was easy to miss, but I noticed it right away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's easy to miss.

Independent

Easy to miss.

Yale University

They're easy to miss.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

THE PLACE It's easy to miss.

The New York Times

It would be easy to miss it.

The New York Times

It would have been easy to miss.

The New York Times - Travel

It is easy to miss.

The New York Times

IT'S easy to miss Kori.

The New York Times - Food

They're easy to miss during daily cleanings.

Cornell University

They're easy to miss from a distance.

The Washington Post

It is easy to miss those moments.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical locations or objects, use "easy to miss" to indicate that they are not immediately obvious or easily found. For example: "The entrance to the speakeasy is "easy to miss", hidden behind an unmarked door."

Common error

While "easy to miss" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "readily overlooked" or "easily unnoticed" in academic or professional writing for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easy to miss" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, describing something's characteristic of being not readily noticeable or apparent. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's commonly used to indicate that something is not easily seen or noticed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "easy to miss" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something not readily apparent or noticeable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a versatile phrase applicable across various contexts. Its strength lies in its ability to inform and caution simultaneously, drawing attention to details that might otherwise be overlooked. While appropriate for general usage, consider alternatives like "readily overlooked" for more formal settings. With its frequent appearances in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, "easy to miss" remains a valuable tool for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subtle and easily missed

Highlights the subtlety of something, making it easy to miss.

easily unnoticed

Emphasizes the lack of notice something receives.

prone to being missed

Highlights the likelihood of something being missed.

readily overlooked

Focuses on the act of overlooking rather than the ease of missing.

liable to be overlooked

Similar to prone to being missed, but with a slightly more formal tone.

hard to spot

Highlights the difficulty in visually identifying something.

escapes attention easily

Focuses on how something avoids being noticed.

not easily detectable

Emphasizes the difficulty in detecting something's presence.

difficult to perceive

Focuses on the challenge in understanding or sensing something.

can be easily disregarded

Focuses on ease of dismissal, not necessarily a lack of being noticed.

FAQs

How can I use "easy to miss" in a sentence?

You can use "easy to miss" to describe something that is not readily apparent or noticeable. For example, "The turning to the hiking trail was "easy to miss", so we drove past it the first time."

What can I say instead of "easy to miss"?

You can use alternatives like "readily overlooked", "easily unnoticed", or "hard to spot" depending on the specific context. Each of these alternatives offers a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct, "easy to miss" or "easily missed"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Easy to miss" describes something inherently difficult to notice, while "easily missed" describes something that was, in fact, missed. For example, "The subtle clue was "easy to miss"", versus "The subtle clue was "easily missed" by the detectives".

What's the difference between "easy to miss" and "difficult to notice"?

"Easy to miss" implies something is not immediately obvious or apparent. "Difficult to notice" suggests that even with some attention, it's hard to perceive. They are largely interchangeable, but "difficult to notice" might suggest a higher degree of effort is required to perceive something.