hard to establish whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to establish whether" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing uncertainty or difficulty in determining the truth or validity of a statement or situation. Example: "It is hard to establish whether the new policy will have a positive impact on employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is hard to establish whether such strategies are pro-competitive or nefarious.

The Economist

Again, some critics have worked hard to establish whether or not the poet shared the Prioress's outlook.

The New Yorker

But the Bristol and Strathclyde university researchers say the system is complex and claimants have found it hard to establish whether they are eligible.

The Guardian - Money

It is hard to establish whether that is true or not; but, given that death in middle age is fairly rare, it would explain only a little of the phenomenon.

The Economist

"I think at this point it's hard to establish whether he did really commit suicide or was killed.

BBC

By just studying Fig. 11, it is hard to establish whether there is a tendency of longer (or shorter) development time in standards that have editor participation from a certain organisation type when comparing with a another organisation type since there are overlapping value intervals for different organisation types.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

However, against the backdrop of ongoing transfers, it is harder to establish whether class II or III RNRs were present in the LUCA, despite the fact that ribonucleotide reduction is an essential cellular reaction and was pivotal to the transition from RNA to DNA genomes.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Although the causality between depression and pain relief is hard to establish, our findings suggest that depression is an important psychological factor in determining whether cancer patients will experience effective pain management, especially when depression is difficult to manage.

BMC Palliative Care

Some facts are hard to establish.

The Economist

That's very hard to establish now".

The New York Times - Arts

That was clearly a violation of regulations, but whether it represented even a theoretical threat to the national security is hard to establish.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to establish whether", ensure that the context clearly indicates what factors contribute to the difficulty in ascertaining the information. Providing context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to establish whether" when the evidence leans strongly in one direction. Using it in such cases can undermine your credibility by suggesting undue skepticism or a lack of understanding of available information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to establish whether" functions as an introductory clause expressing uncertainty or difficulty in confirming a specific fact or relationship. Examples from Ludwig show it used across diverse scenarios where definitive proof is lacking. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to establish whether" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express uncertainty or difficulty in verifying a particular fact or situation. Ludwig's analysis, supported by various examples, demonstrates its frequent use in news and scientific contexts. While not the most common phrase, it is a valuable tool for expressing caution and tentativeness in writing. Consider using related phrases such as "difficult to determine whether" or "challenging to ascertain whether" for stylistic variation. Remember to avoid overusing the phrase when evidence is readily available, as this might undermine your credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to determine whether

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", indicating a slightly more formal tone while maintaining the core meaning.

difficult to know if

Focuses on the difficulty of knowing rather than establishing.

challenging to ascertain whether

Substitutes "hard" and "establish" with "challenging" and "ascertain", suggesting a higher degree of complexity in the determination process.

not easy to determine if

Uses a more direct and simple vocabulary to convey the difficulty in determining something.

remains uncertain whether

Focuses on the ongoing uncertainty surrounding a situation, rather than the difficulty in establishing it.

hard to say if

Uses "say" instead of "establish", indicating a more conversational tone.

it's unclear if

Offers a concise and informal way to express that something is not definitively known.

it is dubious whether

Replaces the original phrase with a more formal and skeptical tone, questioning the likelihood of something being true.

it's questionable whether

Suggests that there are reasons to doubt something, rather than simply indicating difficulty in establishing it.

difficult to prove whether

Highlights the difficulty of providing evidence or validation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "hard to establish whether" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to determine whether", "challenging to ascertain whether", or "not easy to determine if" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

What does "hard to establish whether" imply?

The phrase "hard to establish whether" implies that there are significant obstacles or challenges in confirming or verifying a particular fact, situation, or relationship. It suggests that evidence may be lacking, contradictory, or difficult to interpret.

Is it better to use "hard to establish whether" or "difficult to establish whether"?

Both "hard to establish whether" and "difficult to establish whether" are grammatically correct and convey essentially the same meaning. "Difficult" is generally considered slightly more formal than "hard", but the choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

When should I avoid using the phrase "hard to establish whether"?

Avoid using "hard to establish whether" when the information is readily available or easily verifiable. In such cases, using the phrase might suggest a lack of due diligence or an unnecessary degree of skepticism.