is difficult to assess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is difficult to assess" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is challenging to evaluate or measure, often in contexts like research, performance, or situations requiring judgment. Example: "The impact of social media on mental health is difficult to assess due to the varying factors involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Aldington's contribution is difficult to assess.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Kublai's character is difficult to assess.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ensuring quality is difficult to assess.

The Guardian

Whether it's more is difficult to assess.

The Guardian

"How significant is difficult to assess".

The New York Times

How all this affects student performance is difficult to assess.

The New York Times

It is difficult to assess how popular the shows are.

The New York Times

Whether the site yields successful matches is difficult to assess.

The New Yorker

It is difficult to assess this drive toward improvement.

The New York Times

How this affects creative quality is difficult to assess.

The New York Times - Arts

The anchor's role is difficult to assess, because there is nothing to compare to it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is difficult to assess", be specific about why the assessment is challenging. Provide context or contributing factors for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is difficult to assess" as a vague statement. Instead of saying "The situation is difficult to assess", specify what aspects are hard to evaluate: "The long-term economic impact of the policy is difficult to assess due to unforeseen global events."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is difficult to assess" functions as an evaluative descriptor. It qualifies a subject by stating that its evaluation or measurement presents significant challenges. This is supported by Ludwig which confirms its common usage in conveying complexity or uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is difficult to assess" is a versatile and frequently used expression that indicates a challenge in evaluating or measuring something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly appears in various contexts, predominantly in news and media, scientific, and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide context and specificity to explain why the assessment is difficult. Alternatives such as "is hard to evaluate" or "is challenging to measure" can be employed depending on the desired tone and emphasis. Avoiding overgeneralization and providing concrete reasons for the difficulty in assessment will enhance clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is hard to evaluate

Replaces "difficult" with "hard", offering a more informal synonym. It maintains the core meaning of the original phrase.

is challenging to measure

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "assess" with "measure", highlighting the problematic aspect of quantification.

is not easy to determine

Emphasizes the lack of ease in finding a conclusive answer or value, rather than explicitly focusing on assessment.

is tough to gauge

Uses "tough" and "gauge" as more colloquial substitutes for "difficult" and "assess", respectively, suggesting an estimation challenge.

is complex to understand

Focuses on the complexity of understanding the subject, implying that assessment is hindered by this complexity.

is not straightforward to evaluate

Highlights the lack of a simple or direct way to perform the assessment.

presents assessment challenges

Shifts the focus to the challenges inherent in the assessment process, rather than the difficulty itself.

is problematic to quantify

Specifically targets the issues related to assigning a numerical value to something.

defies simple evaluation

Suggests that the subject resists or makes it impossible to evaluate in a basic way.

resists easy appraisal

Uses "resists" and "appraisal" to convey the idea that the subject is not easily judged or valued.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is difficult to assess" to sound more formal?

You can use alternatives such as "is challenging to evaluate" or "presents assessment challenges" to maintain a formal tone.

What are some common reasons why something "is difficult to assess"?

Common reasons include a lack of sufficient data, the presence of confounding variables, inherent complexity, or the absence of reliable measurement tools. These issues make accurate evaluation a challenge.

How does "is difficult to assess" differ from "is impossible to assess"?

"Is difficult to assess" indicates a challenge in evaluation, while "is impossible to assess" suggests that evaluation is not feasible at all. The former implies that assessment might be possible with more effort or better methods, while the latter indicates a fundamental barrier.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "is difficult to assess"?

It's appropriate in contexts where judgment, measurement, or understanding is hindered by specific obstacles. This can include research, performance reviews, economic forecasts, or any situation requiring informed evaluation.