it difficult to understand why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it difficult to understand why" is not correct in English.
It should be "it is difficult to understand why." You can use it when expressing confusion or a lack of clarity about a particular situation or reasoning. Example: "In light of the recent events, it is difficult to understand why the decision was made."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

He finds it difficult to understand why people think there is something nefarious about using encryption.

The Guardian

"I find it difficult to understand why we are not on the same team.

The Guardian - Sport

"I find it difficult to understand why we are not all on the same team.

The Guardian - Sport

I find it difficult to understand why there's a debate over it".

The Guardian - Sport

So I find it difficult to understand why people would volunteer to put themselves in such a position.

The New York Times

They find it difficult to understand why the president of this little island, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the Tigers' leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, cannot settle their differences.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

It is difficult to understand why it plays no role in determining the writers' optimism about this war.

The New York Times

It's difficult to understand why China wouldn't abandon it unless it believed it were getting some benefit out of the thing.

The Economist

FORBES suspects that CUC's numbers were funny from the start, and it is difficult to understand why Silverman didn't catch it.

Forbes

"Without this data, it is difficult to understand why the department is so confident it can manage its budget", the parliamentary watchdog said.

The Guardian

It's difficult to find another issue that has such overwhelming and bipartisan support, and it's difficult to understand why Congress still refuses to act.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include the verb "is" or "was" before "difficult" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "it is difficult to understand why" instead of "it difficult to understand why".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the verb "is" or "was" before "difficult", resulting in ungrammatical sentences. Always double-check that you've included the necessary verb to maintain correct sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it difficult to understand why" functions as an introductory clause expressing a lack of comprehension. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the missing verb "is". While conveying a clear sentiment, its non-standard form impacts clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it difficult to understand why" is relatively common, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "it is difficult to understand why". Though often found in news, science, and business contexts, it's crucial to include the verb "is" for proper grammar. Alternative phrases, such as "it is hard to understand why" or "it's unclear why", offer grammatically sound ways to express a similar sentiment. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's hard to understand why

Replaces "difficult" with "hard", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

it is hard to understand why

Adds the missing "is", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

it's difficult to see why

Substitutes "understand" with "see", focusing on a visual metaphor for comprehension.

it is difficult to comprehend why

Replaces "understand" with the more formal "comprehend".

it's unclear why

Offers a more concise way to express a lack of clarity or understanding.

it is unclear why

Offers a more concise and grammatically correct way to express a lack of clarity or understanding.

it's hard to see why

Similar to "it's difficult to see why", but uses "hard" instead of "difficult".

it is hard to see why

Similar to "it is difficult to see why", but uses "hard" instead of "difficult" and it is grammatically correct.

it remains a mystery why

Emphasizes the enigmatic nature of the situation.

the reasons are unclear

Shifts the focus to the reasons themselves being unclear, rather than personal difficulty in understanding.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it difficult to understand why"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "it is difficult to understand why" or "it's difficult to understand why". The inclusion of the verb "is" is essential for proper grammar.

What does "it difficult to understand why" mean?

The phrase is intended to express a lack of comprehension or confusion regarding a particular situation or reason. However, it is grammatically incorrect. You should say "it is difficult to understand why" instead.

Are there alternatives to saying "it is difficult to understand why"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "it's hard to understand why", "it is hard to see why", or "the reasons are unclear" to convey a similar meaning.

Why is "it difficult to understand why" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase omits the necessary verb "is", which is required for the sentence to be grammatically complete and correct in standard English. Saying "it is difficult to understand why" corrects this issue.