it is hard to outline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is hard to outline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a topic or concept that is complex or difficult to summarize or categorize clearly. Example: "The subject matter of this research is so intricate that it is hard to outline the main points effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What is also important, there is lack of clarity regarding the relations between researchers' concepts and related fields: it is hard to outline how other sciences affect the scope of BSD/SBD and directions of studies.

Journal of Big Data

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Without a fully established evaluation system, it is hard to outline the severity of the disease in an individual patient.

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

And the reek will be worse this year than ever, as free schools and assorted other ideas farted from the ever-noxious bumhole that is Michael Gove pollute the atmosphere and fog the once-shining vision of an egalitarian, comprehensive education system so thoroughly that it is hard to perceive even its outline any more.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some experts have outlined legal principles that might let sanity triumph, but it is hard to think it will.

The New Yorker

It is hard to swallow.

The New York Times - Sports

It is hard to explain.

The New York Times

It is hard to know.

The New York Times

It is hard to change.

The Economist

It is hard to believe.

The New York Times

It is hard to concentrate".

The New York Times

It is hard to wait.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is hard to outline", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is difficult to outline. Be specific about the subject matter causing the difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "it is hard to outline" when a simpler phrase like "it's unclear" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where a more comprehensive or structured description is genuinely challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is hard to outline" functions as an evaluative expression, indicating the difficulty in providing a structured overview or description of a topic or concept. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is hard to outline" expresses the difficulty in clearly describing or structuring something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While grammatically sound, it's relatively rare and suitable for contexts where acknowledging complexity is important. Consider more straightforward alternatives if simplicity suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's challenging to delineate

Replaces "hard" with "challenging" and "outline" with "delineate", altering the vocabulary but retaining the core meaning of difficulty in defining something.

it's difficult to summarize

Substitutes "hard" with "difficult" and "outline" with "summarize", focusing on the difficulty in creating a brief overview.

it's tough to specify

Uses "tough" instead of "hard" and "specify" instead of "outline", emphasizing the difficulty in being precise.

it's not easy to define

Expresses the difficulty using a negative construction, replacing "hard" with "not easy" and "outline" with "define".

it's unclear how to present

Shifts the focus to the lack of clarity in presenting information, rather than a difficulty in outlining.

it's problematic to conceptualize

Highlights the problems associated with forming a clear concept or idea.

it's complicated to explain

Emphasizes the complexity involved in providing an explanation.

it's a challenge to clarify

Highlights the difficulty as a challenge and replaces "outline" with "clarify", focusing on making something easier to understand.

the details are elusive

Changes the focus from the act of outlining to the elusiveness of the details themselves.

the situation defies easy explanation

Significantly alters the structure, focusing on the situation resisting a simple explanation.

FAQs

What does "it is hard to outline" mean?

The phrase "it is hard to outline" means that something is difficult to describe clearly or present in a structured, organized way. It suggests complexity or a lack of clear boundaries.

What can I say instead of "it is hard to outline"?

You can use alternatives like "it's difficult to summarize", "it's challenging to delineate", or "it's not easy to define" depending on the specific context.

Is "it is hard to outline" formal or informal?

"It is hard to outline" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more sophisticated alternatives might be preferred in highly formal writing. The formality depends largely on the surrounding language.

How can I use "it is hard to outline" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The relationship between these variables is complex, so "it is hard to outline" a clear causal pathway."