hard to demonstrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to demonstrate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is difficult to show or prove, often in academic or analytical contexts. Example: "The theory is sound, but the practical applications can be hard to demonstrate in real-world scenarios."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's really hard to demonstrate when treatments are working," he says.

Science Magazine

"Firstly, the clubs will be working hard to demonstrate value to them.

The Guardian - Sport

It is equally hard to demonstrate that gender stereotyping -- a provocative but slippery notion -- motivates harassment.

The New York Times - Magazine

So the players will fight hard to demonstrate that Ross was the problem.

The New York Times - Sports

Since the musical effect of Wright's overlapping transcripts is cumulative, it's hard to demonstrate.

The New Yorker

And it's hard to demonstrate a practical impact from the Supreme Court's intervention.

The New York Times

Even then it is hard to demonstrate a clear excess in cancer risk".

The New York Times

Instead, the spot works hard to demonstrate that the story is one of triumph.

The New York Times

Even when it came to actual US troops, the committee found it hard to demonstrate much interest.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the owners stood on one of the stone-slab beds and stomped hard, to demonstrate its sturdiness.

The New York Times

The only problem was, with so few digital images available at the time, it was hard to demonstrate what their new application could do.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to demonstrate", ensure that the context clearly identifies what is difficult to prove or show. Provide specific examples or reasons to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to demonstrate" without specifying the 'what'. Always clarify what aspect or element is challenging to demonstrate to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to demonstrate" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying an infinitive. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this construction expresses the difficulty in providing evidence or proof for a particular claim or concept.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Science & Research

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to demonstrate" effectively communicates the challenge of providing evidence or proof. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. Its prevalence in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian highlights its general usage, while its presence in Science Magazine and other scientific publications reflects its applicability in technical fields. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly specify what exactly is difficult to demonstrate to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives such as "difficult to prove" or "challenging to show" depending on your intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to prove

Focuses on the challenge of providing sufficient evidence to establish a fact.

challenging to show

Emphasizes the effort required to make something evident or visible.

tough to substantiate

Highlights the difficulty in supporting a claim with concrete details.

hard to evidence

Similar to "difficult to prove", but implies a struggle to find or present supporting evidence.

elusive to establish

Suggests the concept is difficult to concretely prove and easy to misinterpret.

not easily shown

Indicates something can be shown, but it requires more effort and might be an atypical situation.

difficult to ascertain

Focuses on the challenge of figuring out something with enough precision.

unclear to reveal

Suggests there is information but it is unknown when it will be easy to access.

problematic to validate

Indicates issues exist that make validation difficult.

not straightforward to present

Highlights the complexity of explaining or showcasing something effectively.

FAQs

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

Use "hard to demonstrate" when you want to express that something is challenging to prove or show. For example, "It is hard to demonstrate a direct link between the two events".

What are some alternatives to "hard to demonstrate"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to prove", "challenging to show", or "tough to substantiate depending on the context.

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

Both "hard to demonstrate" and "difficult to demonstrate" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on your preferred tone, with "hard" being slightly more informal.

What makes something "hard to demonstrate"?

Something might be "hard to demonstrate" due to a lack of concrete evidence, complex variables, or the intangible nature of the concept itself. For example, it may be "hard to demonstrate" the long-term effects of a new policy without sufficient data.