hard to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

'hard to determine' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to express difficulty in accurately figuring out or defining something. For example, "The cause of the accident was hard to determine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But quite how is hard to determine.

The Guardian

That was hard to determine at first.

The New York Times - Arts

The source was not hard to determine.

The New York Times

It was hard to determine his value.

The Washington Post

Well, that isn't hard to determine either.

The New York Times

Even that shouldn't be hard to determine.

The New York Times

Whether they stemmed further declines is hard to determine.

The New York Times

Availability is hard to determine in the current market.

The New York Times

The trick is it's hard to determine correlation.

The New York Times

(To what extent he influenced Greenspan is hard to determine).

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's hard to determine where the leak came from.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to determine", ensure the context clearly indicates what is difficult to determine. Provide any available context to mitigate ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to determine" when there is substantial evidence pointing to a likely conclusion. Instead, acknowledge the evidence while admitting remaining uncertainties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to determine" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive verb. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing something as being difficult to ascertain or establish. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to determine" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey difficulty or uncertainty in ascertaining something. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "difficult to ascertain" or "challenging to figure out" exist, the choice often depends on the desired nuance. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is difficult to determine, and avoid overstating uncertainty when evidence exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to ascertain

Focuses on the difficulty in finding something out.

challenging to figure out

Emphasizes the effort required to understand something.

not easy to establish

Highlights the lack of ease in proving or confirming something.

tough to pinpoint

Focuses on the difficulty in identifying something exactly.

obscure to identify

Emphasizes the vagueness in finding something out.

unclear to define

Focuses on the ambiguity in setting limits or boundaries to something.

impossible to verify

Highlights the inability to confirm the truth or accuracy of something.

remains uncertain

Indicates a state of doubt or lack of clarity.

difficult to discern

Focuses on the difficulty in perceiving or recognizing something.

not readily apparent

Emphasizes that something is not immediately obvious or noticeable.

FAQs

What does "hard to determine" mean?

The phrase "hard to determine" signifies that something is difficult to ascertain, figure out, or establish with certainty.

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

You can use "hard to determine" to describe situations where identifying a cause, outcome, or value is challenging. For example: "It is "difficult to ascertain" the exact cause of the error".

What are some alternatives to "hard to determine"?

Alternatives include phrases like "difficult to ascertain", "challenging to figure out", or "not easy to establish", each offering a slightly different nuance.

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

Both "hard to determine" and "difficult to determine" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "Difficult to determine" might be perceived as slightly more formal, but the choice often depends on personal preference.