hard to communicate

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard to communicate" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to something that is difficult to express, such as an emotion or opinion. For example, "His feelings about the situation were hard to communicate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bound by civil service rules on impartiality, government communicators work hard to communicate the government of the day's programme and help it fulfil its political priorities.

The Guardian

"During our community consultations we worked hard to communicate its benefits to residents and have adapted our original proposals to take account of their views.

BBC

Tess finds it hard to communicate.

Independent

It's just hard to communicate them.

The New York Times - Magazine

We tried hard to communicate these, but we failed.

The Guardian - Tech

"It was hard to communicate everything," he said.

The New York Times

Constant army pressure means the fronts now find it hard to communicate with each other.

The Economist

It's hard to communicate that much information in an image, but he did.

The New York Times

And then we work really hard to communicate, follow up and repeat what we've said.

The New York Times

All of which makes it extraordinarily hard to communicate about the ACA persuasively or effectively.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I think it's this erratic oscillation that makes BPD so hard to communicate particularly to those who are close.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to communicate", consider clarifying why the communication is difficult – is it due to complex jargon, emotional sensitivity, or cultural differences?

Common error

Avoid using "hard to communicate" as a placeholder for deeper analysis. Instead of stating it's simply hard to communicate, specify the exact barriers to effective communication, such as lack of clarity, emotional complexity, or technical difficulties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to communicate" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied subject. It typically expresses a challenge or difficulty in conveying information, feelings, or ideas. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

19%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to communicate" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe difficulty in conveying information or ideas. As verified by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in news and media, science, and other diverse contexts. When using "hard to communicate", it's beneficial to be specific about the reasons for the communication challenge. Alternative phrases, such as "difficult to articulate" or "challenging to convey", can offer nuanced options for expressing similar concepts. Remember to avoid overuse as a vague placeholder, but rather, explicitly point the barriers to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to put into words

Highlights that words are not enough to describe the situation.

difficult to articulate

Focuses on the struggle to express something clearly.

difficult to explain

Emphasizes a specific problem in making something comprehensible.

challenging to convey

Highlights the difficulty in transferring a message effectively.

tough to express

Emphasizes the effort required to put thoughts into words.

hard to make understood

Focuses on the reception of message, rather than its expression.

not easy to get across

Indicates that the message is not easily understood.

problematic to impart

Suggests that conveying the information may cause issues or complications.

a struggle to get through

Focuses on the challenge of reaching the intended audience.

complex to elucidate

Suggests the idea is intricate and thus difficult to clarify.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to communicate" to describe feelings, ideas, or facts that are difficult to convey effectively. For example, "The technical details were "hard to communicate" to a non-technical audience".

What are some alternatives to "hard to communicate"?

Alternatives include "difficult to articulate", "challenging to convey", or "tough to express", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to communicate" or "hard to communicate"?

Both "difficult to communicate" and "hard to communicate" are correct and widely used. The choice often comes down to personal preference, although "difficult" might sound slightly more formal than "hard".

What makes something "hard to communicate"?

Something might be "hard to communicate" due to its complexity, emotional sensitivity, abstract nature, or lack of shared understanding between the speaker and the audience.