is difficult to link

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is difficult to link" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the challenges of connecting or associating two or more ideas, concepts, or pieces of information. Example: "In this research, it is difficult to link the findings with previous studies due to differing methodologies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Jennifer Estes, the 911 center director, says it is difficult to link a delayed ambulance to a death.

The New York Times

And it is difficult to link the casings to a specific firearm unless the weapon is available.

The New York Times

Because no single router knows both the source of the message and its destination, the identity of the sender and the recipient is difficult to link.

The New York Times - Magazine

Numerous genes have been implicated in human brain evolution, but it is difficult to link any of them to specific changes in brain organization or structure.

The Guardian

Just as tricky, there are few well-founded models of neural circuitry or brain biochemistry, and it is difficult to link this science with real-world behavior.

MIT Technology Review

And while it is difficult to link any single weather event to climate change, there is little doubt that rising sea levels caused by global warming will worsen the dangers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Some precursors have civilian uses and could be difficult to link to weapons without additional evidence.

The New York Times

So far, however, it had been difficult to link the components of a potential Turing mechanism to the molecular constituents.

Nature

But the same research concludes that it's difficult to link human-driven warming to losses in recent mega-disasters.

The New York Times

For instance, whether the Federal Reserve will continue to keep interest rates low would be difficult to link to a particular company's prospects.

The New York Times

Ms. Stonesifer cautioned, however, that it was difficult to link changes in public policy to a foundation's investments in advocacy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is difficult to link", ensure that you clearly articulate both elements that are proving hard to connect. Providing specific examples or contexts can aid clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is difficult to link" when there's absolutely no connection. This phrase implies that some potential relationship exists, even if it's hard to establish. If no potential relationship exists, consider stating it directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is difficult to link" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating a challenge or obstacle in establishing a relationship or association between two or more elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English. For example, "it is difficult to link individual spacers within a CRISPR array and to link these arrays to very similar specific genotypes."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is difficult to link" serves as a valuable tool to express a challenge in establishing a relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. It commonly appears in both scientific and news contexts, highlighting its broad applicability. While alternatives like "is challenging to connect" or "is hard to associate" exist, "is difficult to link" conveys a specific sense of complexity in establishing a connection, as shown in the many examples listed by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is challenging to connect

Focuses on the level of effort required for connection, emphasizing the challenge.

is hard to associate

Highlights the problem in creating an association, suggesting less obvious relationship.

is problematic to relate

Emphasizes the potential issues or complications in establishing a relationship.

is not easy to correlate

Specifically points out the difficulty in finding a direct correlation between two elements.

is tough to tie together

Uses a more informal tone to express the difficulty in uniting different aspects.

is complex to join

Focuses on the intricate nature of combining or linking two separate entities.

connecting is intricate

Shifts the focus to the act of connecting itself, highlighting its complexity.

establishing a link is troublesome

Highlights the act of creating the connection as the source of the problem.

the relationship is obscure

Emphasizes that the existing relationship is not clear or easily understood.

correlation is elusive

Stresses that a correlation, though suspected, is hard to find or prove.

FAQs

How can I use "is difficult to link" in a sentence?

You can use "is difficult to link" to express a challenge in establishing a connection between two or more things. For example, "It "is difficult to link" the symptoms to a specific cause".

What are some alternatives to "is difficult to link"?

Some alternatives include "is challenging to connect", "is hard to associate", or "is problematic to relate", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "is difficult to link" or "is difficult to be linked"?

"Is difficult to link" is generally preferred and more concise. "Is difficult to be linked" is grammatically correct but less common and can sound awkward. In most contexts, the active form is more direct and clear.

What's the difference between "is difficult to link" and "is impossible to link"?

"Is difficult to link" suggests that a connection exists but is hard to prove or establish. "Is impossible to link" means there is absolutely no connection, leaving no room for a possible relationship.