is very difficult to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "is very difficult to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence like: "The exact cause of the fault in the machine is very difficult to ascertain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In any event, just from video images and photographs it is very difficult to ascertain exactly what the cause of such an incident would have been.

The Guardian

It is very difficult to ascertain when tattooing came about in human culture because there are few written records and scientists must instead look at the archaeological record.

Independent

The full death toll from the violence is very difficult to ascertain: medical staff are under instructions not to disclose information, and security forces routinely dispose of bodies secretly, local human rights officials and activists say.

The Guardian

In general it is very difficult to ascertain whether biomarker proteins are generated by the cancer itself or by secondary effects, such as immune response.

BMC Cancer

CS is very difficult to ascertain, especially in subtler cases, and recently a clinical scoring system based on a prospective study of 3,042 CS and CS-like individuals has been proposed.

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

Given the absence of the IR from the Chlorella genome, it is very difficult to ascertain whether the transcription direction of the rRNA operon changed and whether genes were relocated from one genomic region to another during the evolution of trebouxiophytes.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"There is no objective test for backache so it's very difficult to ascertain its seriousness," explains Dr Levinson.

The Guardian - Money

However, this requirement of certainty is where verbal contracts invariable encounter difficulties when a dispute between the parties has arisen, since those terms are very difficult to ascertain.

Independent

Emile Schrijver, the current curator of the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana — whose collection was successfully returned to Amsterdam, via Offenbach, after the war — said that it can be very difficult to ascertain the true history of a particular book.

The New Yorker

It still remains unknown, and it will be very difficult to ascertain, whether many of the most prolific grunters intentionally grunt to interfere with their opponent's performance.

Plosone

It had been very difficult to ascertain whether IMGs were adequately trained or prepared for U.S. residency programs [ 12].

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is very difficult to ascertain", ensure the context clearly indicates what the difficulty stems from. Providing some background or explanation enhances clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "is very difficult to ascertain" in contexts where simpler language would suffice. Overly formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted or pretentious. Consider alternatives like "is hard to know" or "is difficult to determine" for greater accessibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is very difficult to ascertain" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a subject by expressing the characteristic of being hard to establish or determine with certainty. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is very difficult to ascertain" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that something is challenging to determine or establish with certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase appears more frequently in formal contexts such as science and news media, and is less common in informal settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by providing context and consider simpler alternatives if a more accessible tone is desired. Although correct, being a somewhat formal phrase, there can be better and simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is hard to determine

Replaces "very difficult to ascertain" with a simpler, more direct phrase.

is challenging to establish

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "ascertain" with "establish", maintaining a formal tone.

is not easy to figure out

Employs a more informal tone, replacing "ascertain" with the phrasal verb "figure out".

is tough to pin down

Uses a colloquial expression, "tough to pin down", to indicate difficulty in determining something precisely.

is nearly impossible to verify

Highlights the impossibility aspect, using "nearly impossible" instead of "very difficult" and "verify" instead of "ascertain".

remains uncertain

Simplifies the phrase to express the continued lack of certainty.

is shrouded in obscurity

Emphasizes the lack of clarity, using metaphorical language.

defies easy explanation

Shifts the focus to the difficulty in explaining something, implying that it's hard to ascertain.

is subject to much speculation

Indicates a lack of concrete evidence and reliance on guesswork.

presents a considerable puzzle

Highlights the perplexing nature of something that is hard to ascertain.

FAQs

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

You can use "is very difficult to ascertain" when you want to express that something is hard to determine or establish with certainty. For example, "The precise impact of the policy is very difficult to ascertain."

What are some alternatives to "is very difficult to ascertain"?

Alternatives include "is hard to determine", "is challenging to establish", or "is not easy to figure out" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "is very difficult to ascertain" or "is difficult to ascertain"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "is difficult to ascertain" is often preferred for its conciseness. Adding "very" can sometimes be redundant unless you wish to emphasize the extent of the difficulty.

What's the difference between "ascertain" and "determine" when used with "is very difficult to"?

"Ascertain" implies discovering something with certainty through investigation, whereas "determine" simply means to decide or establish something. Therefore, "is very difficult to ascertain" suggests that it is hard to discover something definitively, while "is very difficult to determine" means it's hard to decide or establish something.