it is difficult to enumerate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is difficult to enumerate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the challenges of listing or counting items, ideas, or concepts. Example: "In this complex situation, it is difficult to enumerate all the factors that contribute to the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although it is difficult to enumerate them all, differences among the three long-lived mutants, from another angle, suggest that the common expression patterns reported above are strongly linked to longevity.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Although C. septicum is readily cultured from diseased tissues it can be difficult to enumerate due to its tendency to swarm over the surface of agar plates.

Molecular and Cellular Probes

Indeed, because they interact and spread from one to another, the affects will be difficult to enumerate.

SEP

The development of accurate and comprehensive inventories is challenging: PAHs are emitted from numerous sources that are difficult to enumerate and characterize; emission factors are highly variable and uncertain; and measurements are expensive and scarce.

Environmental Science & Technology

A comparison of model fits via standard techniques of likelihood ratio testing or AIC is complicated by the fact that because HIV models are estimated from the same sample that is being used to compare their fits to other models, it is difficult to correctly enumerate the effective number of rate parameters (and degrees of freedom) in HIV models when applied to a single training set.

Plosone

It is difficult to watch.

The Guardian

"It is difficult to get her appointment.

The New York Times

"It is difficult to say," he said.

The New York Times

It is difficult to have hope.

Independent

It is difficult to answer that".

Independent

"It is difficult to watch this procedure.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is difficult to enumerate" when you want to convey that listing or counting something comprehensively is genuinely challenging due to its complexity or vastness.

Common error

Avoid using "it is difficult to enumerate" when a simpler phrase like "it's hard to count" would suffice. This phrase is best suited for situations involving a significant level of complexity or scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult to enumerate" functions as an adjective phrase describing the degree of challenge associated with the action of enumerating. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is difficult to enumerate" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating that comprehensively listing or counting items is challenging. As Ludwig AI states, it’s appropriate for formal contexts. While not extremely common, it finds application across science, news, and formal writing. Consider simpler alternatives in less formal contexts, and avoid overuse. When you intend to highlight genuine complexity in creating a comprehensive inventory, this phrase serves effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's challenging to quantify

Emphasizes the difficulty in assigning a numerical value.

it's hard to list

Focuses on the effort required to create a comprehensive list.

it's problematic to catalog

Highlights the issues in creating a systematic catalogue.

it's tough to itemize

Stresses the demanding nature of item-by-item listing.

it's complex to specify

Indicates the intricate nature of detailed specification.

it's not easy to count

Simple alternative, focusing on the act of counting.

it's a challenge to tally

Highlights the difficulty in making an accurate count.

listing them is a problem

Focuses on listing as the central issue.

identifying them all is a hurdle

Emphasizes the obstacle of identifying all items.

pinpointing each one is tricky

Highlights that accurately pinpointing each item/reason is problematic.

FAQs

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

You can use "it is difficult to enumerate" when you want to emphasize the challenge of listing or counting items or reasons, like in the sentence, "It is difficult to enumerate all the factors contributing to this problem".

What's a more straightforward way to say "it is difficult to enumerate"?

For a simpler phrasing, consider using "it is hard to list" or "it is challenging to count", depending on the context.

In what situations is "it is difficult to enumerate" most appropriate?

"It is difficult to enumerate" is best used in formal or scientific contexts where precise and comprehensive listing is challenging due to complexity or scale, not in everyday conversation.

Is "it's difficult to enumerate" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it's difficult to enumerate" is a grammatically correct contraction of "it is difficult to enumerate" and can be used in less formal writing.