it is difficult to gauge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is difficult to gauge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something is hard to measure, assess, or evaluate. Example: "Given the varying opinions on the matter, it is difficult to gauge the overall sentiment of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

They say it is difficult to gauge its current value because the market in Manhattan has fallen so far, and few transactions have occurred.

The New York Times

With mail-order rentals, the profit margin is greater on each rental than with a local rental, but the videos are out of the store for longer, so it is difficult to gauge its profitability.

The New York Times

But apart from the initial savings, it is difficult to gauge whether Vodafone and its competitors are going to profit.

The New York Times - Tech

It is difficult to gauge where he stands.

The New York Times - Sports

It is difficult to gauge how much online spending is driven by college students.

The New York Times

It is difficult to gauge what will happen in the coming months.

The New York Times - Food

It is difficult to gauge whether Mr. Paul's fund-raising prowess will translate into votes.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly, it is difficult to gauge the true number or to analyse trends of hidden homelessness.

The Guardian

However, he added, it is difficult to gauge why people join certain militant groups.

The Guardian

It is difficult to gauge the actual effect of slicing the president's tax request in half.

The New York Times

Neither man would comment, so it is difficult to gauge the seriousness of their differences.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience. While appropriate for formal writing, less formal contexts might benefit from simpler alternatives like "it's hard to tell".

Common error

Avoid using "it is difficult to gauge" as a standalone statement without providing any context. Always briefly mention the factors contributing to the difficulty in assessing or measuring something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult to gauge" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a challenge in assessing or measuring something. It typically introduces a clause explaining why the assessment is problematic. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is difficult to gauge" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something is hard to measure or assess. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. As shown in the provided examples, its prevalence is primarily within News & Media and Science, making it suitable for both neutral and formal contexts. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide context explaining why something is difficult to gauge, avoiding overuse as a standalone statement. Alternative phrases such as "it is challenging to assess" or "it is hard to measure" can offer similar meaning with subtle variations in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is challenging to assess

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "gauge" with "assess", offering a slightly different tone.

it is hard to measure

Uses simpler vocabulary; "hard" instead of "difficult" and "measure" instead of "gauge".

it is not easy to determine

Emphasizes the lack of ease in determining something, rather than the difficulty in gauging it.

it is tough to evaluate

Substitutes "difficult" with "tough" and "gauge" with "evaluate".

it's uncertain how to quantify

Focuses on the uncertainty in quantifying something, indicating a lack of precise measurement.

assessing is proving problematic

Inverts the sentence structure and uses more formal language.

the impact is hard to ascertain

Shifts focus to a specific impact and uses a more formal verb, "ascertain".

establishing a clear metric is problematic

Highlights the problem of finding a metric to establish a number.

quantification remains elusive

Emphasizes the inability to quantify something with the use of the word 'elusive'.

the extent is not readily apparent

Focuses on the lack of clear visibility or obviousness of something.

FAQs

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

Use "it is difficult to gauge" when you want to express that something is hard to measure, assess, or evaluate. For example, "Given the limited data, "it is difficult to gauge" the long-term effects of the policy".

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

You can use alternatives like "it is challenging to assess", "it is hard to measure", or "it is not easy to determine" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it is difficult to gauge" or "it's difficult gauging"?

"It is difficult to gauge" is the grammatically correct form. "It's difficult gauging" is not standard English.

What is the difference between "it is difficult to gauge" and "it is impossible to gauge"?

"It is difficult to gauge" indicates a challenge in assessment, while "it is impossible to gauge" suggests that assessment is entirely unachievable.