hard to attach

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to attach" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is difficult to connect or affix to another object or concept. Example: "The new component is hard to attach to the existing framework, requiring additional tools."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The fact that Cameron found it so hard to attach a happiness programme to his wellbeing agenda shows how vacuous is the task.

The Guardian

However, cells were hard to attach and grow on the HA based membranes.

Polymer

Why is it so hard to attach the issue of human rights to these political decisions?

Huffington Post

It's a saying that's been hard to attach to Roberto Durán.

Huffington Post

A study among Dutch construction workers reported that workers found it hard to attach meaning to the concept 'elevated risk' [ 40].

BMC Public Health

Prune back any growth that is hard to attach straight or crowds the trellis.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

For example, bottles using frosted glass or weird edgy design features might make it harder to attach bedazzling items.

WikiHow

Using a real stick may be the most authentic move, but keep in mind that it won't be as clean as something you can find at home, and that it may be harder to attach it to leaves or petals.

WikiHow

Most tropical countries find it hard enough to attach them to forests.

The Economist

Sammy Ray, oyster pathologist and professor emeritus at Texas A&M University at Galveston, said that if the larvae did not have a clean, hard surface to attach to, they would sink to the bottom and die.

The New York Times

"It's going to be a hard role to attach to just because of all the different groups, religious groups and just people into athletics looking at you," said Avneet Bhullar, Sim's older sister, who is a law student in England.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts, use "hard to attach" to indicate difficulty in associating or linking ideas. For example, "It was hard to attach a specific meaning to his vague statements."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "attach". The correct form is "hard to attach something to something else". Incorrect usage would be omitting the "to" or using a different preposition like "with".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to attach" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the difficulty in connecting or affixing something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

31%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to attach" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing the difficulty in connecting or affixing something, as verified by Ludwig AI. While it is not extremely common, it appears in diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. When using the phrase, ensure correct preposition usage (attaching to something) and consider alternatives like "difficult to connect" or "challenging to affix" depending on the desired nuance. Overall, the phrase is suitable for various writing styles while maintaining clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to connect

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", emphasizing the challenge in establishing a link.

challenging to affix

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "attach" with "affix", highlighting the complexity of fastening something.

tough to secure

Replaces "hard" with "tough" and "attach" with "secure", focusing on the difficulty in ensuring something is firmly in place.

not easily joined

Emphasizes the lack of ease in bringing two things together, using more formal language.

strenuous to link

Highlights the effort required to establish a connection or association.

awkward to fasten

Describes the clumsy or inconvenient nature of trying to fix something.

laborious to append

Emphasizes the extensive effort needed to add or affix something.

unwieldy to couple

Suggests the connection is difficult because of the size or shape of the objects.

complicated to associate

Highlights the difficulty in making a mental connection or linking ideas.

problematic to integrate

Focuses on the difficulties of combining something into an existing system or whole.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to attach" to describe something that is difficult to connect, either physically or conceptually. For example, "The label was "difficult to connect" to the uneven surface" or "It's "challenging to affix" blame in this situation".

What are some alternatives to "hard to attach"?

Some alternatives include "difficult to connect", "challenging to affix", or "tough to secure" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hard to be attached" instead of "hard to attach"?

While grammatically sound, "hard to be attached" has a slightly different meaning. It usually refers to the difficulty in forming an emotional bond. "Hard to attach" usually means difficult to physically or conceptually connect something.

What does it mean when something is "hard to attach"?

It means that it is difficult to connect, fasten, or associate something with something else. The difficulty can be physical (like attaching a part) or conceptual (like attaching blame or meaning).