hard to dissociate from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to dissociate from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to separate or distinguish from another thing, often in emotional or psychological contexts. Example: "The memories of my childhood are hard to dissociate from my current feelings of nostalgia."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She can own a stage and take possession of songs that are very hard to dissociate from their original singers.

The Guardian

And the French are hostile to Turkey's entry into the EU, a subject that has been hard to dissociate from the constitution.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Vedder's overly enunciated vocal approach was run into the ground by second-rate rock singers to the point where it became hard to dissociate Pearl Jam from what followed in their wake.

Vice

When you focus on it, it's a lot harder for it to take control of you and to allow you to dissociate from the action.

WikiHow

So I try to dissociate from that while I'm working on a painting.

The New York Times

"Turn It Off," a terrific hymn to repression, addresses the Mormon ability to dissociate from both facts and feelings.

The New Yorker

"We do not trust attempts of the Ukrainian delegate to dissociate from this position.

Huffington Post

Some politicians and pundits publicly called for companies to dissociate from Wikileaks, while others criticized them for doing so.

Huffington Post

Upon hyperphosphorylation, p-Tau is known to dissociate from microtubules.

Plosone

"In many respects it was hard for horsemen to dissociate Yonkers from Roosevelt," said Steven Katz, executive vice president of Walnut Hall Limited, a breeding farm for standardbred horses in Lexington, Ky.

The New York Times

"It's hard for me to dissociate Gab from the reason it was founded, which was quote-unquote left wing censorship," said Keegan Hankes, an expert on online extremism at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "hard to dissociate from", ensure that both elements being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "It's hard to dissociate from the past", specify "It's hard to dissociate current policy from past failures".

Common error

Avoid using "hard to dissociate from" when a complete separation is implied or required. The phrase suggests difficulty, not impossibility. For absolute separation, use alternatives like "completely unrelated to" or "entirely distinct from".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to dissociate from" functions as an adjectival phrase that describes the degree of difficulty in separating one concept, idea, or object from another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to dissociate from" correctly describes the difficulty in separating two related things, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While the frequency is uncommon, it finds its niche mainly in the realm of News & Media. When using this phrase, clarity is key: ensure that both elements are well-defined to avoid confusion. The examples extracted by Ludwig highlight this and serve as a great guide for proper usage. Alternatives such as "difficult to separate from" or "closely associated with" can be used based on context and intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to separate from

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", offering a direct synonym while maintaining the sentence structure.

difficult to disassociate from

A more formal synonym using "difficult" instead of "hard" and retaining the original word stem of "dissociate".

challenging to distinguish from

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "dissociate" with "distinguish", implying a more intellectual effort in separation.

tough to unlink from

Uses "tough" for "hard" and "unlink" for "dissociate", suggesting a digital or abstract connection being severed.

difficult to detach from

Focuses on the act of detaching or removing oneself or something else from a connection.

hard to differentiate from

Replaces "dissociate" with "differentiate", focusing on recognizing differences rather than complete separation.

inseparable from

Expresses a complete lack of ability to separate, a stronger statement than the original.

intrinsically linked to

Indicates an inherent connection that makes separation conceptually difficult, rather than practically.

closely associated with

Implies a strong connection that makes it hard to consider the items independently.

firmly connected to

Indicates a strong bond which makes them hard to dissociate.

FAQs

What does "hard to dissociate from" mean?

The phrase "hard to dissociate from" means that something is difficult to separate or consider independently from something else, often due to a strong association or connection.

How can I use "hard to dissociate from" in a sentence?

You might say, "The artist's later works are "hard to dissociate from" his earlier influences", meaning it's difficult to see his new work without thinking about his past creations.

What can I say instead of "hard to dissociate from"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to separate from", "challenging to distinguish from", or "closely associated with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "difficult to dissociate from" instead of "hard to dissociate from"?

Yes, "difficult to dissociate from" is a correct and more formal alternative. "Hard" and "difficult" are often interchangeable in this context, but "difficult" carries a slightly more elevated tone.