hard to detect

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard to detect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that is difficult to see, find, or spot. For example, "The evidence of their crime was hard to detect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Real injuries can be hard to detect.

The New York Times

The benefits are hard to detect.

The Economist

This makes them rather hard to detect.

The Economist

This makes them perilously hard to detect.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is extremely hard to detect.

The Guardian

Visual excitement is also hard to detect.

The Guardian

Discrimination will still be hard to detect.

The New York Times

It's not hard to detect nuclear radiation.

MIT Technology Review

It is hard to detect a crisis in broadband deployment.

The New York Times

It is hard to detect weariness on her rouged face.

The New York Times

It's hard to detect any excitement in Chisora.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to detect", ensure the context clearly identifies what is difficult to detect. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to detect" without specifying the method or context in which detection is challenging. Instead of saying "The problem was hard to detect", specify "The problem was hard to detect with standard diagnostic tools".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to detect" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that something possesses the characteristic of being difficult to notice or identify. Ludwig AI confirms this is a valid use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to detect" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe something that is difficult to notice or identify. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. It's important to specify what is hard to detect and the methods or conditions under which it is challenging to do so. Related phrases include "difficult to notice" and "challenging to identify". The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Academic, and Scientific sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to notice

This alternative focuses on the challenge of perceiving something, emphasizing the act of noticing.

challenging to identify

This alternative highlights the difficulty in recognizing or pinpointing something specific.

tough to discern

This alternative suggests a struggle to distinguish or differentiate something from its surroundings.

not easily spotted

This alternative emphasizes the ease with which something can be missed or overlooked.

obscure to find

This alternative highlights the hidden nature of what's being sought, making it difficult to locate.

subtle and elusive

This alternative suggests that the thing is so understated and hard to grasp that is easy to miss it.

imperceptible to the senses

This alternative emphasizes that what's being sought cannot be perceived through the regular senses.

undetectable by conventional means

This alternative highlights the need for specialized methods to discover something.

elusive to observation

This alternative emphasizes that the subject is prone to avoid being noticed, which makes detecting it harder.

masked from view

This alternative highlights that something is being deliberately hidden or camouflaged.

FAQs

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

Use "hard to detect" to describe something that is not easily noticed or found. For instance, "The subtle changes in the data were "hard to detect" without careful analysis".

What are some alternatives to "hard to detect"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to notice", "challenging to identify", or "tough to discern" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See also: "difficult to notice", "challenging to identify".

Is it correct to say "hardly detectable" instead of "hard to detect"?

"Hardly detectable" and "hard to detect" are similar, but "hardly detectable" means almost impossible to detect, whereas "hard to detect" simply means difficult to detect. For a similar alternative see "almost impossible to detect".

What makes something "hard to detect"?

Things can be "hard to detect" due to various reasons, such as their small size, camouflage, subtlety, or the limitations of the detection methods used.