hard to process

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to process" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to an idea or concept that is difficult to understand or deal with mentally. For example: The abstract concepts in quantum physics can be hard to process.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's so hard to process".

The New York Times

It was hard to process that.

The New Yorker

"It was hard to process," he said.

The Guardian - Music

The code might be hard to process.

MIT Technology Review

I'm trying so hard to process that pain.

Independent

For his teammates, the news was hard to process.

The Washington Post

The mushroom cloud is one of those images that's hard to process without resorting to abstractions.

The New York Times - Arts

"So it's hard to process at the moment but obviously 24 hours we'll get through it.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was hard to process initially, because there was so much media," Smitty said.

The New Yorker

It was hard to process so much death amid so much sunshine.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This became problematic as the trash contained so much electronic and other hard-to-process waste that the Indian government outlawed this practice.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to process" when describing complex or emotionally challenging information. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is difficult to understand or accept.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to process" when you mean physically difficult. For instance, don't say "This metal is hard to process" if you mean it's difficult to manipulate physically; use a phrase like "difficult to work with" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to process" functions as an adjective phrase describing something challenging to understand or accept mentally. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and illustrates its application in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to process" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe information, events, or concepts that are difficult to understand or emotionally accept. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread usage across diverse fields such as news, science, and academia. While applicable in various registers, its neutral tone makes it suitable for broad communication. Alternatives like "difficult to comprehend" or "challenging to grasp" can be used depending on the specific context. Remember to avoid using it when describing physical difficulties, and ensure the context clarifies what exactly is hard to understand or accept. With a high expert rating, "hard to process" remains a reliable phrase for expressing cognitive or emotional difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to comprehend

Focuses on the intellectual challenge of understanding.

challenging to grasp

Emphasizes the effort required to understand something.

tough to understand

More informal, highlighting the difficulty in understanding.

difficult to accept

Shifts the focus from understanding to emotional acceptance.

hard to fathom

Implies a deeper level of mystery or complexity.

bewildering to consider

Highlights the confusion caused by something.

not easily understood

More formal and direct, simply stating a lack of easy understanding.

beyond comprehension

Indicates something is impossible to understand.

taxing to process

Highlights the mental effort required.

confusing to understand

Highlights confusion as the reason for difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to process" to describe information or events that are difficult to understand or emotionally accept. For example, "The news of the accident was "hard to process"".

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "difficult to comprehend", "challenging to grasp", or "tough to understand".

Is it correct to say "difficult to process" instead of "hard to process"?

Yes, "difficult to process" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Both phrases convey the same meaning and are grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "hard to process" and "hard to believe"?

"Hard to process" refers to something that is difficult to understand or emotionally accept, while "hard to believe" refers to something that is unlikely to be true. For example, the abstract concepts in quantum physics can be "hard to process", and winning the lottery might be "hard to believe".