is very hard to parse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is very hard to parse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to understand or interpret, often in the context of language, code, or complex information. Example: "The technical documentation is very hard to parse, making it challenging for new users to understand the system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The language here is very hard to parse," said Jill Wine-Banks, a former member of the prosecution team during the Watergate scandal.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Frustratingly, it is very hard to tell.

The Economist

It's very hard to park.

The New York Times

It is very hard to predict.

European Transport Research Review

However, this is very hard to realize.

Journal of Modern Transportation

"Land is very hard to find.

BBC

This is very hard to follow.

eLife

Although very common, itch is very hard to describe.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

But this is very hard to do.

WikiHow

Though it is very hard to pull.

WikiHow

"It's very hard to retire here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is very hard to parse", ensure the context clearly indicates what specifically is difficult to understand. For example, specify the text, code, or data that presents the challenge. Provide additional context for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is very hard to parse" without providing specific reasons. Instead of stating "the document is very hard to parse", explain why it's difficult – e.g., "the document is very hard to parse due to its complex jargon and convoluted sentence structure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is very hard to parse" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (implied or stated) to indicate that it possesses the quality of being difficult to understand or interpret. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is very hard to parse" effectively communicates that something is difficult to understand or interpret. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, though more formal options may exist for professional settings. While its occurrence is uncommon, it is found primarily in News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. To improve your writing, remember to provide specific reasons for the difficulty in parsing and tailor your language to suit the register. Alternatives like "is difficult to comprehend", "is challenging to understand" or "is not easy to decipher" can be used for variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is difficult to comprehend

Replaces "very hard" with "difficult" and "parse" with "comprehend", maintaining a similar level of formality.

is challenging to understand

Substitutes "very hard" with "challenging" and "parse" with "understand", slightly emphasizing the effort required for comprehension.

is not easy to decipher

Uses "not easy" instead of "very hard" and "decipher" instead of "parse", suggesting a need to decode or unravel the meaning.

is tough to make sense of

Replaces "very hard" with "tough" and "parse" with "make sense of", making the phrase more informal.

is complicated to interpret

Replaces "very hard" with "complicated" and "parse" with "interpret", highlighting the complexity of the subject.

is obscure and difficult to follow

Adds "obscure" to emphasize the lack of clarity, making it a stronger statement of difficulty.

is convoluted and hard to grasp

Uses "convoluted" and "hard to grasp" to suggest that something is unnecessarily complex and thus hard to understand.

is like solving a riddle

Presents the difficulty as analogous to solving a riddle, implying complexity.

presents a significant interpretive challenge

Changes from a simple statement to a formal description of difficulty, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

requires considerable mental effort to understand

Emphasizes the amount of effort needed to understand, shifting the focus to the cognitive demand.

FAQs

What does "is very hard to parse" mean?

It means something is difficult to understand or analyze, often due to its complexity or obscurity. It implies that extracting meaning requires significant effort.

How can I use "is very hard to parse" in a sentence?

You can say, "The legal jargon in this contract "is very hard to parse", even for experienced lawyers" or "The professor's lecture "is very hard to parse" without prior knowledge of the subject matter".

What are some alternatives to "is very hard to parse"?

You can use alternatives like "is difficult to comprehend", "is challenging to understand", or "is not easy to decipher" depending on the context.

Is "is very hard to parse" formal or informal?

It is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "presents a significant interpretive challenge" may be preferred in academic or professional settings.