hard to interpret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to interpret" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is complex or confusing. For example: "The artist's painting was full of symbolism that was hard to interpret."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some of it is hard to interpret.

The Economist

Such polls are hard to interpret.

The Economist

G. H. Willett: Hard to interpret?

The Guardian

And that will make them hard to interpret.

The New York Times - Health

I find my own plays rather hard to interpret.

The New York Times - Magazine

Fatigue can be hard to interpret, Dr. Galbraith said.

The New York Times

The resulting graph is a little hard to interpret.

The New Yorker

But the current limits are somewhat hard to interpret.

The Guardian

"It's hard to interpret it any other way".

The Guardian - Business

"These data are hard to interpret," he continued.

The New York Times

But principles are hard to interpret and may even conflict with one another.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing complex data or situations, clearly specify what aspects are "hard to interpret" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to interpret" without providing context. Instead of saying, "The results are hard to interpret", specify which results and why they pose a challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to interpret" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality or characteristic of being difficult to understand or explain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to interpret" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, ranging from science and academia to news and general conversation. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify what is "hard to interpret" and why. Alternatives like "difficult to understand" or "challenging to decipher" can add nuance. Remember, context is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to understand

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

challenging to decipher

Substitutes "interpret" with "decipher" and "hard" with "challenging", indicating a demanding effort to understand.

not easy to comprehend

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the difficulty in understanding.

obscure in meaning

Focuses on the lack of clarity in the meaning itself.

ambiguous and unclear

Highlights the presence of ambiguity and lack of clarity.

subject to misinterpretation

Emphasizes the potential for incorrect understanding.

leaves room for doubt

Suggests that the interpretation is uncertain and open to question.

poses an interpretive challenge

Highlights the difficulty as an intellectual problem.

resistant to straightforward analysis

Implies that standard analytical methods are insufficient.

complicated to make sense of

Uses more informal language to express difficulty in understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to interpret" to describe something that is difficult to understand or explain. For example, "The ancient text was "hard to interpret" due to its obscure language".

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

Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "challenging to decipher", or "obscure in meaning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Both "hard to interpret" and "difficult to interpret" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on personal preference and the overall tone of your writing.

What makes something "hard to interpret"?

Something might be "hard to interpret" due to various factors such as complex symbolism, ambiguous language, incomplete data, or conflicting evidence.