hard to articulate

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard to articulate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this expression to describe something that is difficult to express in words. For example: "I'm having a hard time articulating my feelings about the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's just hard to articulate.

The Guardian - Film

Politicians find it hard to articulate what they stand for".

Independent

The answer is somewhat hard to articulate, but here goes.

The New York Times

"It's all chemistry, so it's hard to articulate," she said.

The New York Times

It's hard to articulate Mr. Touitou's subtle aesthetic.

The New York Times

It's hard to articulate how ludicrous that decision was.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's hard to articulate in front of her.

The Guardian

It's hard to articulate, but you go there and you can feel the danger.

The New York Times

As a patient, it's hard to articulate how being seriously ill feels.

The New York Times

From the beginning, the movement found it hard to articulate what, exactly, it opposed.

The Washington Post

And it emblemizes something of the Cornell AgriTech mentality that can be easy to identify but hard to articulate.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to articulate", consider the audience and context. If possible, provide specific examples or analogies to help clarify the concept you are struggling to express.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "hard to articulate" without attempting to provide some level of explanation. Even acknowledging the difficulty and then offering a partial description can improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to articulate" functions as an adjectival phrase describing something challenging to express verbally. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts. It modifies nouns by indicating a difficulty in communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to articulate" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express difficulty in putting something into words. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is frequently found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to provide additional context or examples to aid understanding. Alternatives like "difficult to express" or "challenging to convey" can be used for variety, but the original phrase remains a clear and widely accepted choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to express

Emphasizes the challenge in putting thoughts into words.

challenging to convey

Highlights the effort required to communicate effectively.

tough to put into words

Focuses on the struggle to find the right vocabulary.

hard to put your finger on

Implies a difficulty in identifying or understanding something precisely.

difficult to verbalize

Highlights the challenge of speaking about something.

tricky to communicate

Emphasizes the complexity involved in conveying a message.

elusive to define

Suggests that something is hard to capture with a clear definition.

indescribable

Implies that something is beyond the ability to be described.

ineffable

Indicates that something is too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

hard to pin down

Suggests something is difficult to specify or identify precisely.

FAQs

What does "hard to articulate" mean?

The phrase "hard to articulate" means something is difficult to express in words or to explain clearly.

How can I use "hard to articulate" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe feelings, concepts, or reasons that are not easily expressed. For example: "The reasons behind the decision were "hard to articulate"."

What can I say instead of "hard to articulate"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to express", "challenging to convey", or "tough to put into words" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "difficult to articulate" instead of "hard to articulate"?

Yes, "difficult to articulate" is a perfectly acceptable and grammatically correct alternative. Both phrases convey the same meaning.