easy to trace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "easy to trace" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that can be easily followed or tracked, such as information, data, or a path. Example: "The digital footprints left by users are often easy to trace, making it crucial to protect personal information online."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

An IP address is easy to trace.

The New York Times - Books

Gould was almost impossibly easy to trace.

The New Yorker

It's also easy to trace Dowd's influence.

The Guardian - Books

There he was comparatively easy to trace.

The Guardian

Once identified, it is easy to trace.

The Guardian

THE curse of Tutankhamen is easy to trace.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Many of the angry Reddit comments pointed to photographs, published alongside Newsweek's story, which clearly showed the address of Dorian Nakamoto's house, as well as the license-plate number of his car, making it easy to trace his location.

The New Yorker

Even so, the roots of the salon fairy tale in the old wives' tale are fairly easy to trace.

The Guardian - Books

It's still easy to trace its path a quarter of a century later.

Independent

Gaining access to the areas afflicted is almost impossible and telephone lines are problematically easy to trace.

Vice

Even for these old cases it was still relatively easy to trace the victim, or his family, because of the high emotional impact in the community of such accidents.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "easy to trace", ensure the context clearly defines what is being traced and the method or evidence used for tracing. For example, instead of saying "The problem is easy to trace", specify: "The cause of the network outage is easy to trace through the server logs."

Common error

Avoid using "easy to trace" without providing sufficient context. Saying something is "easy to trace" without specifying the source or method can weaken your argument. Be specific about how and why something is traceable to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easy to trace" typically functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something can be followed or tracked without much difficulty. Ludwig shows numerous examples across different contexts where this phrase is used to describe the traceability of various entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Unknown/unmatched sources

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "easy to trace" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that signifies the straightforward traceability of something. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in news, science, and academic contexts, highlighting its versatility. When using this phrase, it's best to provide specific context about what is being traced and how, avoiding overgeneralizations. Alternatives include "simple to follow" and "straightforward to track". By adhering to these guidelines, writers can effectively employ "easy to trace" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple to follow

Replaces "easy to trace" with a focus on the simplicity of following a path or process.

straightforward to track

Emphasizes the directness and lack of complications in monitoring something.

readily identifiable

Highlights the ease of recognizing or distinguishing something.

easily detectable

Focuses on the ability to notice or discover something without difficulty.

simple to ascertain

Highlights the ease of establishing or confirming something.

effortless to uncover

Implies that finding something requires minimal effort.

quickly discoverable

Focuses on the speed at which something can be found.

not difficult to find

Uses a negative construction to convey the ease of locating something.

uncomplicated to pursue

Highlights the simplicity of following something through to its end.

transparent to observe

Emphasizes the visibility and clarity in seeing something happen.

FAQs

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

You can use "easy to trace" to describe something that can be readily tracked or followed. For example: "The origins of the tradition are "easy to trace" back to the 18th century", or "The error in the code was "easy to trace" because of the detailed comments".

What are some alternatives to "easy to trace"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "simple to follow", "straightforward to track", or "readily identifiable".

When is it appropriate to use "easy to trace" in formal writing?

"Easy to trace" is appropriate in formal writing when describing a process, origin, or cause that can be readily followed using available evidence. However, ensure that the evidence and method of tracing are clearly stated to maintain credibility.

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

"Easy to trace" implies that something can be tracked or followed with minimal effort, while "difficult to trace" suggests that tracking or following something requires significant effort or may not be possible. For example, "The source of the leak was "easy to trace" due to the unique chemical signature," versus "The money laundering scheme was "difficult to trace" because of the complex network of offshore accounts."