is challenging to grasp

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is challenging to grasp" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult to understand or comprehend. Example: "The concept of quantum mechanics is challenging to grasp for many students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Brynjolfsson acknowledges that the concept of an intangible asset can be challenging to grasp.

MIT Technology Review

There's so much going on in US-China tech and trade news that it can be challenging to grasp it all.

Forbes

"It's challenging to grasp what is important and what is not so important," Brown said.

Los Angeles Times

Lacking first-hand experience of India, she voiced that it was challenging to fully grasp the idiosyncrasies of project implementation here.

Cornell University

"The concepts are often super challenging to grasp and convey and they can be hard to talk about for a lot of people.

HuffPost

These differences can be challenging for some to grasp, while others view it as an opportunity to form a truly connected once-in-a-lifetime bond.

HuffPost

The kinematic analysis of human grasping is challenging because of the high number of degrees of freedom involved.

Applied Ergonomics

Task 2, which involves repetitive movement into a relatively impinged position during a grasp and place activity, was anticipated to be challenging for these patients.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Her grasp of power, and even her competence, started to be challenged, while Protestantism is now known to have been less popular than previously thought.

The Economist

And the harder challenge is to grasp and feel the experience of the other in a way that vividly highlights your core obligations as a human being.

Harvard Business Review

The first political challenge is to grasp the depth of the shift in sentiment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is challenging to grasp", ensure the subject you are referring to is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying 'The concept is challenging to grasp', specify which concept you are referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "is challenging to grasp" in situations where simpler alternatives like "is hard to understand" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is challenging to grasp" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. It describes the difficulty associated with understanding something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is challenging to grasp" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its usage spans across news, science, and academic contexts, indicating a broad applicability. While simpler alternatives exist, this phrase adds a layer of sophistication without being overly formal. When using it, ensure that the subject is clearly defined to avoid any ambiguity. Remember that there are several alternative phrases like "is difficult to understand" or "is hard to comprehend".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is difficult to understand

Focuses on the difficulty of understanding, directly replacing "challenging to grasp".

is hard to comprehend

Replaces "challenging" with "hard" and "grasp" with "comprehend", emphasizing the mental effort required.

is not easy to fathom

Uses "fathom" to suggest a deeper level of understanding that is not readily available.

is tough to get your head around

An idiomatic alternative that highlights the mental effort required to understand.

is complex to assimilate

Emphasizes the complexity of the information and the difficulty in integrating it into one's understanding.

presents a steep learning curve

Highlights the significant effort required to learn or understand the subject.

is conceptually demanding

Focuses on the intellectual demand required to understand the concept.

requires careful consideration

Suggests that a thorough and thoughtful approach is necessary for understanding.

demands a high level of cognition

Highlights the need for advanced cognitive abilities to understand the subject.

is not immediately obvious

Indicates that the understanding requires more than a superficial glance.

FAQs

What does "is challenging to grasp" mean?

The phrase "is challenging to grasp" means that something is difficult to understand or comprehend. It implies that some effort or thought is required to fully understand the subject.

What can I say instead of "is challenging to grasp"?

You can use alternatives like "is difficult to understand", "is hard to comprehend", or "is not easy to fathom" depending on the context.

How to use "is challenging to grasp" in a sentence?

You can use "is challenging to grasp" to describe a concept, idea, or task that requires significant mental effort to understand. For example, "The theory of relativity is challenging to grasp for many physics students."

What makes a concept "challenging to grasp"?

A concept might be "challenging to grasp" due to its complexity, abstract nature, or lack of clear explanations. It could also be due to the reader's unfamiliarity with the subject matter.