hard to pick

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard to pick" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is difficult to choose, e.g. "It was hard to pick which dress to wear to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hard to pick.

The New York Times - Books

It's hard to pick just one.

The New York Times

Some cases are hard to pick up.

The New Yorker

It's hard to pick one.

The Guardian - Sport

It's hard to pick an absolute winner.

The New York Times

It's hard to pick past the facade.

Independent

It's hard to pick a favourite scene.

The Guardian - Film

It's hard to pick a single one.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's hard to pick the worst cases.

The Guardian

It's hard to pick the worst moment.

The Guardian

It's hard to pick an expectation.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to pick", ensure the context clearly indicates what the difficulty in choosing refers to. For example, specify "hard to pick a winner" or "hard to pick a favorite song".

Common error

Avoid using "hard to pick" without a clear object or context. For instance, saying "It's hard to pick" without specifying what 'it' refers to can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to pick" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying an implied noun (e.g., 'choice', 'option'). It expresses the difficulty associated with selecting something from a set of possibilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to pick" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey difficulty in making a choice. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's prevalent in news and media, academic writing, and less so in scientific or encyclopedic content. To ensure clarity, it’s crucial to specify what the choice refers to, avoiding vague usage. While alternatives like "difficult to choose" exist, "hard to pick" remains a versatile and widely understood option. Its prevalence across various sources underscores its acceptability and usefulness in expressing the challenge of selection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to choose

Emphasizes the difficulty in the act of choosing.

challenging to select

Highlights the challenge involved in the selection process.

tough to decide

Focuses on the difficulty in making a decision.

not easy to determine

Indicates that determining the best option is not straightforward.

a difficult choice

Emphasizes the challenging nature of the choice itself.

selective process is arduous

Highlights the tediousness and difficulty inherent in the act of selecting something.

pickings are slim

Implies that not only is the selection process difficult but also there are very few to select from.

difficult to distinguish

Focuses on the trouble differentiating between items.

selection poses a challenge

Highlights the challenging aspect of selecting something.

it's a toss-up

Suggests that the options are so similar that the decision is arbitrary.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to pick" to express difficulty in making a selection. For example, "It's "hard to pick" a favorite movie from such a great list" or "With so many qualified candidates, it was "hard to pick" the best one".

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

Alternatives include "difficult to choose", "challenging to select", or "tough to decide", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hard to pick"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase ""hard to pick"" is a common and accepted way to express difficulty in making a choice or selection.

What does "hard to pick" mean?

"Hard to pick" means that it is difficult to choose or select something from a range of options because they are all appealing, similar, or numerous.