it is difficult to quantify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'it is difficult to quantify' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation where it is hard to measure the amount or degree of something. For example, you could say, "It is difficult to quantify the impact of social media on modern society."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is difficult to quantify ROI in social business initiatives when its business objective has not been clearly defined.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But he says it is difficult to quantify.

The New York Times

It is difficult to quantify how many Uighurs have gone home for the Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

It is difficult to quantify the Web's effect on sales, he said.

The New York Times

It is difficult to quantify how much of a distraction Randolph's tenuous status has been.

The New York Times - Sports

"At this point, it is difficult to quantify what was given off," he said.

The New York Times - Science

Still, it is difficult to quantify how much the president's policy has actually retarded research.

The New York Times - Science

For all the rumblings of discontent, it is difficult to quantify Americans' workload.

The New York Times

It is difficult to quantify the level of anti-Semitic feeling in today's Poland.

The New York Times

Because of these short time-scales, it is difficult to quantify adsorption and coalescence during processing.

Food Hydrocolloids

Each design variable influences the rest and it is difficult to quantify their interactions.

Waste Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is difficult to quantify", clearly state the reason for the difficulty. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "it is difficult to quantify" when a rough estimate or qualitative assessment is possible. Instead, acknowledge the possibility of approximation while recognizing its limitations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is difficult to quantify" serves as a statement of limitation, acknowledging the inherent challenges in measuring or assigning a numerical value to a particular phenomenon. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is difficult to quantify" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express the challenges associated with measuring or assigning a numerical value to something. As Ludwig AI states, it's appropriate for situations where precise data is elusive. The phrase sees frequent use in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, as confirmed by the examples from Ludwig. While alternatives like "it is hard to assess" or "it is challenging to measure" exist, the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to communicate the limitations of quantification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is challenging to measure

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "quantify" with "measure", focusing on the effort required.

it is hard to assess

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult" and "assess" instead of "quantify", emphasizing evaluation rather than strict measurement.

it is not easy to determine

Emphasizes the lack of ease in figuring something out, replacing "quantify" with "determine".

it is problematic to evaluate

Highlights the problems associated with evaluating something, rather than directly quantifying it.

it is complex to put a number on

Focuses on the complexity of assigning a numerical value, directly addressing the act of quantification.

precise measurement is elusive

Highlights that getting precise measurement is difficult.

it's tough to calculate

It indicates something is hard to find out (value) mathematically.

quantification is not straightforward

It indicates that something requires to be expressed or measured as a quantity is difficult.

assigning a value is problematic

Highlights problems associated with assigning a value to something, shifting focus from the difficulty to the problematic nature.

measuring this is subject to interpretation

Indicates that a measurement is up to interpretation, and this can be challenging to obtain.

FAQs

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

You can use "it is difficult to quantify" to describe something that is hard to measure precisely. For instance, "it is difficult to quantify the impact of early childhood education on long-term academic success".

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

Alternatives include phrases like "it is hard to assess", "it is challenging to measure", or "precise measurement is elusive", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "it is difficult to quantify" or "it is impossible to quantify"?

The choice depends on the context. If something is truly unmeasurable, "impossible" is accurate. However, if it's simply very hard to measure precisely, "difficult" is more appropriate, as "impossible" suggests a complete lack of measurability, while "difficult" acknowledges some level of measurability, even if imprecise.

What makes something difficult to quantify?

Factors can include a lack of data, complex interactions between variables, subjective assessments, or the absence of a standardized measurement system. For example, the emotional impact of a song is difficult to quantify due to its subjective nature.