it is confounding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is confounding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is confusing or perplexing. Example: "The results of the experiment were unexpected, and it is confounding to see such discrepancies in the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Occasionally, for this reason, it is confounding.

The New Yorker

It is confounding to try to draw lines around when Patagonia's marketing encourages sales and when it discourages them.

The New Yorker

We might keep reaching for something lasting to say about Burnley, but this is a club that feels most alert, most animated, when it is confounding expectations.

Independent

So it is confounding to learn that Mr. Hoyt made each piece by hand out of materials like clay, putty, resin, metal and various kinds of paint, and that each is the product of long-term fussing.

The New York Times - Arts

"And they all kept telling me, 'We want people to look at our art and recognize that we're human beings.' " It is confounding to try to fathom the lives that these detainees have had, the conditions that they have endured in our name while hidden from our view.

The New Yorker

The Americas were not a new world and were not first discovered by Europeans, and yet it is confounding how this conjoined construct is repeatedly advanced to exert supremacy, and orchestrate land acquisition, national expansion, Indian removal and economic exploitation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

CA-AF may have performed worse because it is confounded by amino acid composition.

DNA Research

In other words, the x– y relationship is largely spurious because it is confounded with time (or one or more other variables also associated with time).

BMJ Open

As Figure 1 shows, if we separate Z from X, we can evaluate whether X is a genuine causal factor or if it is confounded by Z.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

All that was a preamble to a game as dizzying in its action as it was confounding in its outcome.

The New York Times - Sports

It was confounding.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is confounding" to express a state of confusion or bewilderment when faced with a situation, fact, or statement that is difficult to understand or explain. Make sure that the subject of the sentence is clearly defined.

Common error

Avoid using "it is confounding" as a synonym for "it is bad" or "it is wrong". The phrase specifically indicates confusion, not disapproval. Ensure the context genuinely involves a lack of understanding, not just a negative evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is confounding" functions as a descriptive statement. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and commonly used. It serves to express that something is confusing, perplexing, or difficult to understand. The phrase attributes a quality of being bewildering to a particular subject or situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is confounding" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something that causes confusion or perplexity. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it's most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, and that the Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While alternatives like "it is puzzling" or "it is bewildering" exist, "it is confounding" often implies a slightly stronger sense of bewilderment. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a genuine lack of understanding, rather than mere disapproval, and that your subject is clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is perplexing

Replaces "confounding" with "perplexing", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

it is puzzling

Substitutes "confounding" with "puzzling", implying something is difficult to understand or solve.

it is baffling

Replaces "confounding" with "baffling", suggesting something is confusing and hard to explain.

it is bewildering

Substitutes "confounding" with "bewildering", indicating a state of confusion or disorientation.

it is mystifying

Replaces "confounding" with "mystifying", suggesting something is mysterious and difficult to understand.

it is enigmatic

Substitutes "confounding" with "enigmatic", implying something is mysterious and difficult to interpret.

it is incomprehensible

Replaces "confounding" with "incomprehensible", emphasizing the inability to understand something.

it is unfathomable

Substitutes "confounding" with "unfathomable", suggesting something is beyond understanding or comprehension.

it defies understanding

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the idea that something is impossible to understand.

it escapes comprehension

Employs a formal tone to suggest something is beyond one's ability to grasp.

FAQs

How can I use "it is confounding" in a sentence?

You can use "it is confounding" to describe something that is puzzling or difficult to understand. For example, "It is confounding how the team lost after such a strong start."

What can I say instead of "it is confounding"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it is puzzling", "it is baffling", or "it is perplexing", all conveying a sense of confusion.

Is it better to say "it is confusing" or "it is confounding"?

Both are correct, but "it is confounding" often carries a slightly stronger, more formal tone than "it is confusing". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What's the difference between "it is confounding" and "it is confusing"?

"It is confounding" suggests a deeper level of bewilderment or perplexity, while "it is confusing" simply indicates a lack of clarity. Confounding implies something is not just unclear but also unsettlingly perplexing.