it is hard to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is hard to avoid" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or difficulties in evading a particular situation or behavior. Example: "In a world filled with distractions, it is hard to avoid procrastination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is hard to avoid this feeling.

The New York Times

But it is hard to avoid the impression of inconsistency.

The Economist

In that court, it is hard to avoid righteous conviction.

The New York Times

It is hard to avoid having doubts about the exercise.

The Guardian - Books

It is hard to avoid being safe, the text says.

The New York Times - Arts

After Ben Stokes's performance at Lord's it is hard to avoid hyperbole.

The Guardian - Sport

For law-abiding Eritreans, it is hard to avoid the national service programme.

The Guardian

After an hour in his company it is hard to avoid a nagging contrast.

The Guardian - Sport

It is hard to avoid the feeling that a passing of the generations may have occurred.

The Guardian - Sport

It is hard to avoid the observation that he looks like a mole.

The New Yorker

It is hard to avoid being swept away by such powerful stories.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is hard to avoid" to acknowledge the difficulty of preventing a particular action or situation, especially when discussing common or widespread phenomena.

Common error

While "it is hard to avoid" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing by using alternatives like "it is difficult to evade" or "it is challenging to escape" to add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is hard to avoid" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the difficulty of preventing or escaping something. As Ludwig AI states, it's considered grammatically correct and usable. The phrase is typically followed by a noun or gerund.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is hard to avoid" is a versatile and commonly used expression that acknowledges the difficulty of preventing or escaping a particular situation. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically correct and is found across various contexts, especially in news and media. When you want to convey that something is difficult to prevent, alternatives such as "it is difficult to evade" or "it is challenging to escape" can add nuance. As Ludwig's examples showcase, this phrase highlights common tendencies and likely outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is difficult to evade

Replaces "hard" with "difficult" and "avoid" with "evade", offering a slightly more formal tone. Similarity is very high.

it is challenging to escape

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "avoid" with "escape", suggesting a struggle to get free from something. Similarity is very high.

it is tough to sidestep

Replaces "hard" with "tough" and "avoid" with "sidestep", implying an attempt to maneuver around something. Similarity is high.

it's nearly impossible to prevent

Indicates a very high degree of difficulty, almost to the point of impossibility, in stopping something. Similarity is high, but stronger.

it's not easy to steer clear of

Focuses on the difficulty of maintaining distance from something, implying potential danger or unpleasantness. Similarity is high.

it's almost inevitable

Highlights the idea that an outcome is virtually certain to happen, leaving little room for avoidance. Meaning is a little different.

it is no easy task to dodge

Replaces "hard" with "no easy task" and "avoid" with "dodge", highlighting the difficulty involved in averting something. Similarity is moderate.

it's a struggle to circumvent

Emphasizes the effort required to bypass or overcome something. Register and formality slightly higher.

one can scarcely help but

Presents a formal and somewhat literary alternative, emphasizing the near impossibility of not doing something. Tone and register are significantly different.

resisting is an uphill battle

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort required to fight against something. Its structure is very different.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is hard to avoid" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it is difficult to evade" or "it is challenging to escape". These options maintain a similar meaning while elevating the register of your writing.

What does "it is hard to avoid" imply in a sentence?

The phrase "it is hard to avoid" suggests that a particular outcome, situation, or action is almost inevitable or very difficult to prevent, despite possible efforts to do so.

Is "it is hard to avoid" the same as "it is impossible to avoid"?

While similar, "it is hard to avoid" implies a high degree of difficulty but not necessarily impossibility. "It is impossible to avoid" indicates that there is absolutely no way to prevent something from happening. "It is nearly impossible to prevent" falls closer to complete inevitability.

When is it appropriate to use "it is hard to avoid" in writing?

Use "it is hard to avoid" when you want to acknowledge the difficulty of preventing something, especially when discussing common tendencies, widespread phenomena, or likely outcomes. It's particularly useful when complete avoidance is unlikely but not entirely impossible.