hard to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to comprehend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult to understand or grasp mentally. Example: "The scientific concepts presented in the lecture were so complex that they were hard to comprehend for many students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

Outsiders found it hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

Figures like that are hard to comprehend.

The Guardian - Arts

Today that reaction is hard to comprehend.

The New York Times

At the time, it was very hard to comprehend.

Independent

This should not be so hard to comprehend anymore.

The New York Times

Why anyone ever craves it can be hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

Carol's sudden and tragic death is hard to comprehend.

The New York Times

The allure of Damascus shouldn't be that hard to comprehend.

The New York Times

Being there, with Harry Bliss, was hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

The mood is hard to comprehend unless you live here.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your language. While "hard to comprehend" is perfectly acceptable, using synonyms like "difficult to understand" or "challenging to grasp" can enhance readability and engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to comprehend" with excessively abstract or philosophical concepts without providing concrete examples or context. This can make your writing seem vague and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to comprehend" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that the subject is difficult to understand or grasp mentally. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. For example, "The scale of the NSA's data collection is hard to comprehend."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to comprehend" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that expresses difficulty in understanding something. Ludwig AI affirms its validity. It is versatile, fitting into neutral registers across various contexts such as news, science, and business. While acceptable and effective, diversifying your vocabulary with synonyms like "difficult to understand" or "challenging to grasp" can enhance writing. Ensure clarity by providing sufficient context when discussing abstract subjects to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to understand

A direct synonym, emphasizing the difficulty in the process of understanding.

challenging to grasp

Highlights the effort required to take hold of or understand something.

difficult to fathom

Suggests a deeper level of complexity that makes understanding difficult.

beyond one's understanding

Indicates that something is outside the limits of what someone can understand.

not easily understood

A more descriptive way of saying something is not straightforward to understand.

tough to make sense of

Focuses on the struggle to find meaning or coherence in something.

elusive to the mind

Implies that something is difficult to capture or retain in one's thoughts.

impenetrable to reason

Suggests that something cannot be understood through logical thinking.

obscure in meaning

Highlights that the meaning of something is not clear or easily apparent.

arcane to most

Indicates that something is known or understood by very few people.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to comprehend" to describe something that is difficult to understand. For instance, "The complexity of the theorem made it "hard to comprehend" for the students."

What are some alternatives to "hard to comprehend"?

Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "challenging to grasp", or "tough to make sense of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "hard to comprehend" or "difficult to understand"?

Both "hard to comprehend" and "difficult to understand" are correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic variation.

What makes something "hard to comprehend"?

Things can be "hard to comprehend" due to complexity, lack of context, unfamiliar terminology, or abstract concepts.