it is challenging to explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is challenging to explain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a topic or concept that is difficult to articulate or clarify. Example: "The theory of relativity is complex, and it is challenging to explain its implications to someone without a background in physics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(The idea here is that it is challenging to explain these things, so children will have to rely on fairly complex language to meet this challenge).

Applied Psycholinguistics

Given that the A-type lamins are nearly ubiquitously expressed and participate in so many different cellular processes, it is challenging to explain the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which mutant forms contribute to tissue-specific pathology.

Human Molecular Genetics

Currently, it is challenging to explain the conflicting data provided by these numerous studies to clarify the potential individual contributions of the pregnant and postpartum settings on breast cancer outcomes.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

It is challenging to explain why the UN/Sal and AD/Lep cohorts both show a thrifty transcriptional profile, given that postnatal leptin administration in the latter case will mimic excess nutrition rather than undernutrition.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The elaborate design of animal signals is challenging to explain.

Animal Behaviour

The observed power output of 4.7 gigawatts is challenging to explain from tidal heating alone, so the main source of heat remains a mystery.

Wikipedia

The microscopic origin of glass transition, when liquid viscosity changes continuously by more than ten orders of magnitude, is challenging to explain from first principles.

Plosone

The study reports a higher proportion of young males (25 45 years) as compared to other studies from Gujarat (7, 8) which is challenging to explain.

Global Health Action

"Nevertheless, I was challenged to explain why I thought genocide was funny.

The Guardian

"For the Italian government, it would be challenging to explain why De Sousa is either serving her sentence or being retried when Italy has pardoned other CIA personnel involved.

Vice

Jefferies said the deal would be "challenging to explain" to Sky shareholders.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when using this phrase. If your audience is unfamiliar with the subject matter, provide simpler, more accessible explanations alongside the phrase. This is also useful when communicating to international colleagues.

Common error

Avoid using "it is challenging to explain" as a standalone statement without offering any further clarification or context. This can leave the reader frustrated and uninformed. Always follow up with specific reasons or examples of the challenges involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is challenging to explain" serves as a meta-statement, indicating the speaker or writer's assessment of the difficulty involved in articulating a particular concept. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is challenging to explain" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to preface complex or difficult explanations. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It functions to prepare the audience for a potentially intricate explanation and is frequently found in science, news and media, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's helpful to provide context about why something is challenging to explain and consider your audience's level of understanding. Be sure to avoid using it as a standalone statement without offering further clarification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is difficult to explain

Replaces "challenging" with "difficult", a direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

it is hard to explain

Substitutes "challenging" with "hard", offering a more informal tone while retaining the core meaning.

it is tough to explain

Employs "tough" as a synonym for "challenging", adding a slightly stronger sense of difficulty.

it is not easy to explain

Expresses the difficulty by negating "easy", providing a slightly indirect way of conveying the same message.

explaining it is a challenge

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the act of explaining as the challenge itself.

it poses a challenge to explain

Introduces "poses a challenge" to highlight the problematic nature of explaining something.

it's complicated to explain

Replaces "challenging" with "complicated", emphasizing the complexity as the reason for the difficulty.

it's complex to elucidate

Uses "complex" and "elucidate" to indicate the intricate nature of the explanation required.

it resists simple explanation

Highlights the inherent resistance of the subject matter to being easily explained.

it defies easy explanation

Suggests that the topic is almost impossible to explain simply, indicating a high level of difficulty.

FAQs

What does "it is challenging to explain" mean?

The phrase "it is challenging to explain" indicates that a particular topic or concept is difficult to articulate or make understandable due to its complexity or abstract nature.

How can I replace "it is challenging to explain" in my writing?

You can use alternatives like "it is difficult to explain", "it is hard to explain", or "it poses a challenge to explain" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "it is challenging to explain" or "it is hard to explain"?

"It is challenging to explain" is generally considered more formal than "it is hard to explain". Use the former in academic or professional contexts and the latter in more casual settings.

When should I use "it is challenging to explain" versus simply explaining the concept?

Use "it is challenging to explain" when you want to acknowledge the difficulty of the explanation before attempting to provide it. This sets expectations and prepares the audience for a potentially complex explanation.