impossible to follow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impossible to follow" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing something that cannot be understood or tracked, such as instructions or a narrative. Example: "The lecture was so disorganized that it was impossible to follow." Alternative expressions include "hard to follow" and "difficult to understand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's impossible to follow.

The New Yorker

It became impossible to follow everything.

The New York Times - Arts

It's impossible to follow what she's saying.

The Guardian - Sport

Nadj's work is impossible to follow.

The Guardian

Sometimes Ríos's narrative is impossible to follow.

The New York Times - Books

"Sandover" is antic, eccentric, sometimes impossible to follow.

The New Yorker

Is it simply impossible to follow in Balanchine's footsteps?

The New York Times - Arts

Their feet are on backward, making their tracks on shore nearly impossible to follow.

The New York Times - Books

It's chaotic, it's almost impossible to follow, it's full of blood, gore, heart and tortured souls.

The Guardian

The trouble with New Jersey politics is that it's almost impossible to follow without a libretto.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Today, such an approach is difficult - even impossible - to follow from an ethical point of view.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impossible to follow", ensure the context clearly identifies what is difficult to follow. Be specific about the subject causing the difficulty to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "impossible to follow" in situations where something is merely challenging, not truly impossible. Overusing it can diminish its impact. Instead, consider more nuanced alternatives like "difficult to understand" or "hard to track".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible to follow" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state or quality of something. It indicates that something is so complex, unclear, or rapidly changing that it cannot be understood or tracked. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

14%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impossible to follow" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something incomprehensible or difficult to track. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts. It's most commonly found in news and media, and scientific writing, serving to express frustration or difficulty in understanding complex subjects. When using this phrase, clarity and context are crucial to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too difficult to understand

This alternative highlights the complexity hindering comprehension.

hard to keep up with

This phrase emphasizes the struggle to maintain pace with something.

unintelligible

This single word suggests a complete lack of clarity.

beyond comprehension

This alternative stresses the limits of understanding.

incomprehensible

Similar to unintelligible, this indicates a lack of coherence.

difficult to grasp

Focuses on the challenge of mentally seizing the information.

lacking clarity

Directly points out the absence of clear presentation.

opaque

This describes something that is not transparent or easily understood.

abstruse

Implies a deep and complex difficulty in understanding.

muddy

This conveys that information is unclear or confused.

FAQs

How can I use "impossible to follow" in a sentence?

You can use "impossible to follow" to describe something that is very difficult to understand or keep up with. For example, "The instructions were so complex that they were "impossible to follow"".

What are some alternatives to "impossible to follow"?

Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "hard to keep up with", or "unintelligible depending on the context".

Is it better to say "difficult to follow" or "impossible to follow"?

"Difficult to follow" suggests a challenge in understanding, while "impossible to follow" indicates a complete inability to understand. Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the situation. If something is simply challenging, "difficult to follow" is more appropriate.

What makes something "impossible to follow"?

Something might be "impossible to follow" due to its complexity, lack of clarity, rapid pace, or disorganization. These factors can all contribute to making something incomprehensible.