hard to evaluate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to evaluate" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is difficult or challenging to assess or judge. Examples: 1. This new project is hard to evaluate because we do not have enough data to analyze its effectiveness. 2. The students' essays were hard to evaluate due to the vague and unclear arguments presented. 3. The company's financial statements were hard to evaluate without a thorough understanding of their accounting methods. 4. It can be hard to evaluate the true cost of a product when there are hidden fees and charges. 5. The artwork's value is hard to evaluate as it is a subjective and constantly changing market.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's hard to evaluate.

The New Yorker

"Twitter is hard to evaluate.

Independent

It's very hard to evaluate.

The New York Times - Sports

It is hard to evaluate these claims.

The New York Times

"It's hard to evaluate it," he said.

The New York Times

These can be hard to evaluate.

The New York Times

Confidence levels are very hard to evaluate and interpret.

The Guardian

Mr. Pagliero's mute, evasive performance is hard to evaluate.

The New York Times - Arts

The effect of carbon offsets is hard to evaluate.

The New York Times - Arts

He found it hard to evaluate where they stood.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's hard to evaluate, since 25,000 isn't that many calls.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to evaluate", provide context explaining why the evaluation is difficult. Specific reasons add clarity and strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stating something is "hard to evaluate" without providing supporting evidence or reasons. This weakens the statement and lacks persuasive power. Provide clear justifications for the difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to evaluate" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun, expressing the difficulty associated with assessing or judging something. According to Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples from Ludwig show the phrase used in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to evaluate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys the difficulty of assessing or judging something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Its neutrality makes it appropriate for diverse contexts, while providing specific reasons for the difficulty enhances clarity and persuasiveness. When considering related phrases, options like "difficult to assess" or "challenging to judge" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. By avoiding overgeneralizations and providing context, you can use this phrase effectively to communicate nuanced evaluations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to assess

Replaces "evaluate" with "assess", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

challenging to judge

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "evaluate" with "judge", emphasizing the difficulty in forming an opinion.

tough to appraise

Uses "tough" for "hard" and "appraise" as a more formal synonym for "evaluate".

not easy to determine

Expresses the difficulty in a more descriptive way, using "not easy" instead of "hard" and "determine" instead of "evaluate".

complicated to understand

Shifts the focus to understanding the subject, implying that the complexity makes evaluation difficult.

requires careful consideration

Highlights the need for thorough thought before evaluating, rather than stating direct difficulty.

poses an evaluative challenge

More formal and emphasizes the challenge aspect of the evaluation process.

assessment is problematic

Focuses on the problematic nature of the assessment itself.

difficult to quantify

Highlights the problem of measuring the value of something.

not straightforward to measure

Emphasizes the lack of simplicity in the evaluation process.

FAQs

What does "hard to evaluate" mean?

The phrase "hard to evaluate" means that something is difficult to assess, judge, or determine the value or quality of. It implies that there are obstacles or complexities that make a straightforward assessment challenging.

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

You can use "hard to evaluate" when you want to express that something is not easily assessed or judged. For example, "The success of the new policy is "hard to evaluate" without more long-term data".

What are some alternatives to saying "hard to evaluate"?

Alternatives to "hard to evaluate" include "difficult to assess", "challenging to judge", or "tough to appraise". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Why is it sometimes "hard to evaluate" something?

It can be "hard to evaluate" something due to various factors, such as a lack of sufficient data, complex or conflicting information, subjective criteria, or the absence of clear benchmarks. Understanding these reasons can help improve the evaluation process.