it is difficult not to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is difficult not to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a challenge or struggle to refrain from doing something. Example: "It is difficult not to feel excited about the upcoming event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whatever your views on this vigorous climber, it is difficult not to admire its sheer tenacity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Touching it, it is difficult not to feel some of its mystique.

The Guardian

"It is difficult not to find something".

The New York Times

It is difficult NOT to get disappointed at criticism.

Yale University

It is difficult not to feel his pain.

The Washington Post

It is difficult not to feel some sympathy for them.

The Guardian - Business

It is difficult not to be propelled through "African Queen".

The New York Times

It is difficult not to be impressed by George Steiner.

The New York Times - Books

So it is difficult not to be critical.

The Guardian

It is difficult not to let feelings into all of our body.

Yale University

Gravity is not designed as a comedy, but at times it is difficult not to laugh.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is difficult not to" when you want to convey that something is very tempting or naturally inclined, but you might still try to resist it. For example, "It is difficult not to feel sympathy for the character, despite their flaws."

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "it is difficult not to" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "it's hard to avoid" or rephrasing the sentence for a more varied style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult not to" functions as an introductory clause to express a strong inclination or challenge in avoiding a particular feeling, action, or thought. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is difficult not to" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a strong inclination or temptation towards a particular action or feeling. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it's versatile, appearing frequently in news, media, and academic contexts. While there are alternative phrases, such as "it's hard to avoid" or "it's challenging to resist", the original phrase maintains its effectiveness in expressing a sense of near-inevitability. Remember to use it judiciously to avoid repetition in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's hard to avoid

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult", slightly less formal.

it is hard not to

Simple synonym using 'hard' instead of 'difficult'.

it's challenging to resist

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and focuses on resisting an action.

it's difficult to refrain from

Focuses on the act of refraining, adding a layer of conscious effort.

it's nearly impossible to

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty, almost impossibility, of avoiding something.

it's a struggle to not

Emphasizes the effort and internal conflict involved.

one can hardly

A more formal and literary way of expressing the same idea.

one cannot help but

A more emphatic way of saying that something is unavoidable.

it's tempting to

Highlights the allure or temptation associated with the action.

it's almost inevitable that

Suggests a high probability or certainty of the action occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "it is difficult not to" in a sentence?

Use "it is difficult not to" to express that something is tempting or hard to avoid, like in the sentence, "It is difficult not to admire her dedication."

What can I say instead of "it is difficult not to"?

You can use alternatives like "it's hard to avoid", "it's challenging to resist", or "it's tempting to" depending on the context.

Is "it is difficult to not" grammatically correct?

While "it is difficult to not" might be understood, the standard and more fluent phrasing is "it is difficult not to". The latter is generally preferred in formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "it is difficult not to" and "it is impossible not to"?

"It is difficult not to" suggests a strong inclination or temptation that is hard to resist, while "it is impossible not to" implies that resisting is completely out of the question. The latter is a stronger statement.