it is difficult to distinguish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is difficult to distinguish" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations where it is hard to tell the difference between two or more things. Example: "In this complex painting, it is difficult to distinguish between the foreground and background elements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is difficult to distinguish from the other species in its genus.

Wikipedia

It is difficult to distinguish Pythagoras's teachings from those of his disciples.

Britannica

It is difficult to distinguish his case from that of Love or McKinnon.

The Guardian - Opinion

Experimentally, it is difficult to distinguish between the alternative mechanisms posed above.

Britannica

It is difficult to distinguish Assange or WikiLeaks from The Washington Post.

The Washington Post

It is difficult to distinguish them based only on morphological characteristics.

Journal of Stored Products Research

Because her work with Lang spans the bulk of his Weimar oeuvre, it is difficult to distinguish their respective contributions.

Columbia University

The blue-back herring (A. aestivalis) is a physically similar species, and it is difficult to distinguish between the two.

Columbia University

Scholars sometimes use the terms interchangeably because, in practice, it is difficult to distinguish one from the other.

Britannica

However, it is difficult to distinguish the performance of other three dyes since no one has all superiorities.

Dyes and Pigments

It is difficult to distinguish one theory from the others.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is difficult to distinguish", ensure that you clearly identify the two or more items or concepts that are being compared. This provides context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it is difficult to distinguish" without specifying the criteria or methods that make the distinction challenging. Being specific about why it's difficult adds depth and credibility to your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult to distinguish" functions as an evaluative expression, indicating a challenge or obstacle in discerning differences between two or more entities. Ludwig examples highlight this across varied subjects, which confirms its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is difficult to distinguish" is a versatile phrase used to express the challenge of differentiating between items or concepts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various fields, particularly in science, news, and academia. When employing this phrase, specificity is key to enhance clarity and impact. Consider alternatives like "it is hard to differentiate" or "it is challenging to tell apart" to suit different contexts. While the phrase is quite common it adds value when the reason why something is difficult to distinguish is specified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is hard to differentiate

This alternative uses "hard" instead of "difficult", which offers a slightly less formal tone.

it is challenging to tell apart

This alternative uses "challenging" to convey the difficulty and "tell apart" to express differentiation.

it's not easy to discern

This uses "not easy" and "discern" to suggest the act of perceiving or recognizing something is not straightforward.

it's tough to make out

This alternative uses "tough" and "make out" indicating the identification is a strenuous task.

it's problematic to differentiate

This highlights the problematic nature of differentiating, adding a sense of concern.

it presents difficulties in differentiation

This is a more formal way of expressing the difficulty, focusing on the act of differentiation itself.

the lines are blurred between

This uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a lack of clear distinction.

there is no clear distinction between

This directly states the absence of a clear difference.

the difference is subtle

This indicates that a difference exists, but it's very slight and therefore hard to notice.

they are almost indistinguishable

This suggests the items are so similar that distinguishing them is nearly impossible.

FAQs

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

Use "it is difficult to distinguish" to express that differentiating between two or more things is challenging, such as "it is difficult to distinguish between the two models".

What are some alternatives to "it is difficult to distinguish"?

Alternatives include "it is hard to differentiate", "it is challenging to tell apart", or "it's not easy to discern", depending on the context.

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

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult" is generally considered more formal than "hard", but the choice depends on the desired tone of your writing.

What makes "it is difficult to distinguish" different from "it is impossible to distinguish"?

"It is difficult to distinguish" implies a challenge in differentiating, while "it is impossible to distinguish" suggests that differentiation is completely unachievable. The former allows for the possibility of distinction with effort, whereas the latter does not.