is very difficult to look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is very difficult to look" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express that something is hard to see or observe, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The text on the screen is very difficult to look at due to the poor lighting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It is very difficult to look at".

Independent

It is very difficult to look inconspicuous in a bathroom on a sidewalk in New York with the door open.

The New York Times

And he said to me, "It is very difficult to look around the world, at the suffering of people who can't even speak up, who don't have a say in decisions affecting their own future".

The New Yorker

A spokesman for the OSCE, Michael Bociurkiw, said: "Some of the body bags are open and the damage to the corpses is very, very bad – it is very difficult to look at".

The Guardian

"But now you are looking at a standards-based assessment, and it is very difficult to look at the past tests and know what will be on the next test".

The New York Times

"Some of the body bags are open and the damage to the corpses is very, very bad – it is very difficult to look at," said Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the investigators at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Saturday.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Is it possible to judge which adolescents are simply "bad seeds"? A. It would be very difficult to look at someone who is 15 or 16 and say with any degree of certainty that we know what that person is going to be like when he is 25, that he is a bad person.

The New York Times - Science

"It's very difficult to look back on".

The New York Times

"It was very difficult to look at and watch," Pitino said.

The New York Times - Sports

It's very difficult to look away when Ryder is on screen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He went on, "It was very difficult to look Joanne in the eye and tell her she may die".

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something challenging to view, consider using stronger verbs like "discern", "observe", or "comprehend" to replace the generic "look". This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "look" when describing perceptual challenges. Instead of saying "it's difficult to look", specify the nature of the difficulty. For example, "it's difficult to discern" or "it's hard to observe the nuances".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is very difficult to look" functions as a descriptive statement, aiming to express the challenge or complexity involved in the act of viewing or observing something. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not correct in standard written English. Therefore, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is very difficult to look" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its purpose is to express the challenge in observing something. The phrase usage is limited to primarily News & Media contexts and lacks strong register specificity, which may be neutral. It's advisable to use clearer, more precise alternatives, such as "is hard to see" or "is challenging to observe", for better clarity in writing. Given the grammatical awkwardness and the availability of better options, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is challenging to observe

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "look" with "observe" for a more formal tone.

is hard to visually assess

Substitutes "difficult" with "hard" and specifies "visually assess" to emphasize the visual aspect.

is not easy to see

Uses a simpler vocabulary to convey the difficulty in seeing or understanding something.

is tough to view

Employs "tough" as a synonym for "difficult" and "view" for "look" to indicate the unpleasantness of seeing something.

is problematic to examine

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and "look" with "examine" to suggest a more analytical challenge.

is complicated to discern

Uses "complicated" for "difficult" and "discern" for "look" to highlight the difficulty in distinguishing or understanding something.

is not straightforward to perceive

Replaces "difficult" with "not straightforward" and "look" with "perceive" to indicate a lack of directness in understanding.

is obscure to the eye

Focuses on the lack of clarity or visibility, making it hard to see.

is arduous to contemplate

Emphasizes the mental effort required, rather than just the visual act.

is taxing to behold

Suggests that viewing something is draining or burdensome.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "is very difficult to look"?

The phrase "is very difficult to look" suggests that something is challenging to observe or view, often because it's unpleasant or complicated. However, it's grammatically awkward. Consider using alternatives like "is hard to see" or "is challenging to observe".

Which is the more appropriate way to say something is hard to see: "is very difficult to look" or "is hard to see"?

"Is hard to see" is the more appropriate and grammatically sound way to express that something is not easily visible. "Is very difficult to look" is awkward and less clear. Use "is hard to see" instead.

What are some alternatives to "is very difficult to look" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "is challenging to observe", "is hard to discern", or "is not easy to see". Each of these options provides a more precise and grammatically correct way to convey the intended meaning. See also: "is challenging to observe".

Is "is very difficult to look at" grammatically correct?

Adding "at" improves the grammar, but is not perfect. Some better alternatives are "is hard to look at" or "is difficult to watch". When referring to something you are reading consider the sentence structure of: "is very difficult to read", in particular if something is complex and difficult to understand.