is very difficult to read

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is very difficult to read" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe text or material that is hard to comprehend or visually challenging to interpret. Example: "The handwriting in this document is very difficult to read, making it hard to understand the content."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Proust is very difficult to read.

The New York Times - Magazine

"In fact, he is very difficult to read.

The New York Times - Sports

The jumble of phrases and clauses is very difficult to read.

The New York Times

As you can imagine, the result is very difficult to read.

The New York Times - Tech

In fact, it is very difficult to read the fourth part of Jonathan Swift's great satire – "A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms" – without instantly thinking of 21st-century England.

Independent

It is very difficult to read because the electoral geography is quite local and it is a complicated breakdown of voting which is taking place – but my hunch is we're still in with a chance of getting a parliamentary majority.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"She was very difficult to read.

The Guardian - Film

"It's very difficult to read or interpret or understand what is going on.

The New York Times

"The Amida was very difficult to read due to its inadequate construction and its plastic prism," he continued.

The New York Times

It would honestly be very difficult to read much at all on the deals and miss that point.

The Economist

"Sometimes, Tiger, even as well as I know him, sometimes it's very difficult to read him," O'Meara said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "is very difficult to read", ensure you specify the reason for the difficulty, such as poor handwriting, complex language, or a confusing layout.

Common error

Avoid using "is very difficult to read" as a standalone critique. Instead, provide specific details about what makes the text hard to read. For example, instead of saying "This report is very difficult to read", specify: "This report is very difficult to read due to its dense jargon and lack of clear headings."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is very difficult to read" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the degree of challenge involved in understanding or interpreting the text. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is very difficult to read" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe texts or materials that pose significant comprehension challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is observed across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, providing specific details about the reasons for the difficulty enhances clarity. Consider alternatives like "is hard to understand" or "is challenging to decipher" for nuanced expression. The phrase functions as a descriptive adjective, conveying obstacles to comprehension. Expert analysis rates it highly for grammatical correctness, source authority, and usage consistency, making it a reliable choice for expressing reading difficulties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite hard to understand

Emphasizes the level of difficulty in comprehension, using "hard" instead of "difficult" and "understand" instead of "read".

is extremely challenging to decipher

Highlights the extreme level of difficulty and uses the verb "decipher", suggesting a need to decode something.

presents considerable reading challenges

Focuses on the challenges presented by the material, rather than directly stating difficulty in reading.

is not easily comprehensible

Indicates difficulty in understanding, using a more formal tone with "comprehensible".

requires significant effort to understand

Stresses the amount of effort needed to achieve comprehension.

is tough to make sense of

Uses informal language ("tough", "make sense of") to express difficulty in understanding.

is a struggle to get through

Suggests that reading the material is a difficult and arduous process.

demands close attention to follow

Emphasizes the need for careful attention to understand, rather than directly stating difficulty.

is virtually unreadable

Expresses a high degree of illegibility or incoherence.

poses a significant interpretation hurdle

Frames the difficulty as an obstacle to interpretation, suitable for complex or abstract texts.

FAQs

What does "is very difficult to read" mean?

The phrase "is very difficult to read" indicates that something is hard to understand or visually challenging to interpret due to complexity, poor formatting, or other factors.

What can I say instead of "is very difficult to read"?

You can use alternatives like "is hard to understand", "is challenging to decipher", or "is not easily comprehensible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is very difficult to read" or "is difficult to read"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "is very difficult to read" emphasizes a higher degree of difficulty than "is difficult to read".

Is "is very difficult to read" formal or informal?

The phrase "is very difficult to read" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.