it is difficult to count

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is difficult to count" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a challenge or complexity in quantifying something, whether it's numbers, items, or abstract concepts. Example: "When it comes to the number of stars in the sky, it is difficult to count them all accurately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It is difficult to count the recovery population here because only residential treatment beds are licensed by the state.

The New York Times

It is difficult to count and keep track of wild bee populations globally, but their numbers are probably declining overall as a result of such human activity.

The New York Times

It is difficult to count exactly how many people pass through Times Square each day, but foot traffic by some measures has nearly doubled.

The New York Times

"As for the other demands, these are many, and it is difficult to count in a single session," Mr. Assad said.

The New York Times

It is difficult to count the cost of the lack of consolation, affection and living flesh and blood in the lives of children.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is difficult to count the growth in organizations active in disaster globally.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's difficult to count.

The Guardian

It's difficult to count uncast votes, but there were clearly thousands of them as a result of the voter-suppression measures.

The New Yorker

It was difficult to count everyone, but there seemed to be fewer than three hundred present, perhaps half that number; the age range was young teens to seventies, and it was a fairly multicultural group.

The New Yorker

Mr. Iyer's tunes tended to be vamp-based or modal, and the rhythm section -- Stephan Crump on bass and Derek Phillips on drums -- laid down hard and infinitely subdivided jazz-funk patterns; it was difficult to count time in them.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Khan said it was difficult to count the bodies because they had been badly mutilated, but he estimated that the villagers brought around 30. Mohammad Nieem Qadderdan, the former top official in the district of Bala Baluk, said he had seen dozens of bodies when he visited the village of Gerani.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is difficult to count", ensure the reason for the difficulty is clear. Specify whether it's due to a large number, a lack of reliable data, or another factor.

Common error

Avoid using "it is difficult to count" when a simple estimation or approximation would suffice. Saying "it is difficult to count" implies a need for precision that may not always be necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult to count" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied noun, indicating the challenge associated with quantifying something. As Ludwig confirms, it expresses a challenge or complexity in quantifying something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is difficult to count" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing challenges in quantifying items or concepts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for written English. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the reason for the difficulty is clear, and avoid overstating the challenge when an approximation would suffice. Semantically related alternatives include "it's hard to enumerate" and "quantification poses a challenge". Overall, while not overly frequent, it serves as a clear and effective way to express quantification challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's hard to enumerate

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "count" with "enumerate", emphasizing the act of listing.

it's challenging to tally

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "count" with "tally", suggesting a demanding counting process.

enumeration is problematic

Focuses on enumeration, portraying it as causing a problem.

quantification poses a challenge

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "count" with "quantification" and "difficult" with "poses a challenge".

ascertaining the number is tough

Replaces "count" with "ascertaining the number" and "difficult" with "tough", emphasizing the effort needed.

determining the quantity is complex

Uses "determining the quantity" instead of "count", highlighting the complexity of finding the amount.

the number is hard to establish

Shifts the focus to the "number" itself, stating that it's "hard to establish".

reckoning is problematic

Replaces "count" with "reckoning", making it a more formal expression.

assessing the total is tricky

Uses "assessing the total" in place of "counting", suggesting a more comprehensive evaluation is needed.

impossible to quantify precisely

Emphasizes the impossibility of getting an exact measurement.

FAQs

How can I use "it is difficult to count" in a sentence?

Use "it is difficult to count" when you want to express that something is hard to enumerate due to its quantity, complexity, or lack of available data. For example, "It is difficult to count the number of stars in the sky".

What can I say instead of "it is difficult to count"?

You can use alternatives like "it's hard to enumerate", "it's challenging to tally", or "quantification poses a challenge" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it is difficult to count" or "it is hard to count"?

Both "it is difficult to count" and "it is hard to count" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "Difficult" is slightly more formal than "hard".

When should I use "impossible to count" instead of "it is difficult to count"?

Use "impossible to count" when something is practically impossible to enumerate due to its nature or sheer number. "It is difficult to count" implies a challenge, while "impossible to count" suggests it cannot be done at all.