hard to identify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to identify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is difficult to recognize or determine. Example: "The symptoms of the illness can be hard to identify, making diagnosis challenging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hard to identify with them.

Independent

The trend is not hard to identify.

The Guardian - Film

"It's hard to identify," he said.

The New York Times - Science

The reasons are not hard to identify.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's hard to identify when exactly the depression began.

The Guardian

"They are really hard to identify," Ms. Ma said.

The New York Times

Today, it is hard to identify their successors.

The New Yorker

It's hard to identify, which is why it's often overlooked".

The New York Times

Jazz Samba's magic formula wasn't hard to identify.

The Guardian - Music

But sometimes, groups are extremely hard to identify.

The New York Times

It's not hard to identify reasons for their distress.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to identify", ensure the context clearly specifies what is causing the difficulty in identification. Be specific about the attributes or conditions that make something hard to discern.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to identify" without providing any context. Instead of saying "The problem is hard to identify", specify what makes it so: "The problem is hard to identify because the symptoms are subtle and easily overlooked."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to identify" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality of being difficult to recognize or ascertain. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to identify" is a common and grammatically sound way to express difficulty in recognizing or determining something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it appears frequently in news, science, and general contexts, suggesting its versatility. To maximize clarity, it's essential to specify what makes something difficult to identify, avoiding overgeneralizations. Consider using alternatives like "difficult to discern" or "challenging to recognize" to add nuance to your writing. Overall, "hard to identify" is a valuable tool for conveying challenges in perception and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to discern

Replaces "identify" with "discern", emphasizing the challenge of perceiving subtle differences.

challenging to recognize

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "identify" with "recognize", highlighting the demanding nature of recognition.

difficult to distinguish

Focuses on the difficulty in telling the difference between 2 elements.

not easy to determine

Replaces "hard" with "not easy" and "identify" with "determine", offering a straightforward alternative.

tough to make out

Uses a more informal phrasing with "tough" and "make out", suggesting a struggle in understanding.

tricky to pinpoint

Highlights the difficulty in precisely locating or defining something.

obscure to detect

Emphasizes the hidden nature of something, making it difficult to find.

elusive to perceive

Suggests that something is difficult to grasp or understand due to its evasive nature.

ambiguous to define

Focuses on the lack of clarity, making it difficult to establish a clear definition.

subtle and unrecognizable

Highlights a lack of clarity and recognizability.

FAQs

What does "hard to identify" mean?

The phrase "hard to identify" describes something that is difficult to recognize, discern, or pinpoint. It suggests that there are obstacles preventing clear recognition or understanding.

What can I say instead of "hard to identify"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to discern", "challenging to recognize", or "tough to make out" depending on the context.

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

Use "hard to identify" to describe something that is not easily recognized or determined. For example, "The source of the error was hard to identify" or "The bird species was hard to identify due to its similar appearance to other species".

Is it correct to say "hard to identify for" instead of "hard to identify"?

While not grammatically incorrect, adding "for" after "hard to identify" is usually unnecessary and can make the sentence less concise. It's generally better to use "hard to identify" on its own. For example: "The culprit was hard to identify" is better than "The culprit was hard to identify for the police".