it is hard to specify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is hard to specify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is difficult to define or clarify, often due to complexity or ambiguity. Example: "When it comes to the exact timeline of the project, it is hard to specify when we will reach the final stages."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

However, often it is hard to specify this information a priori.

NeuroImage

Since the real object surface is unknown, it is hard to specify a general criterion to detect outliers.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

GPCRs have many conserved sequences, and it is hard to specify known target substructures in G6, such as DRY, PFF and CW, by using sequence information only, underlining the importance of focusing on both drug and target substructures.

Plosone

Furthermore, it is hard to specify thresholds on the four causal traits that can generate plausible prevalence rates for the different types of disorder.

Behavior Genetics

However, it is hard to specify the position of PXC1 relative to the TDIF/PXY/WOX4 pathway because we could not judge which alterations in gene expression resulting from forward responses or feedback responses.

BMC Plant Biology

Thus, it is hard to specify a common normal brain reference that would perfectly fit to all astrocytoma types with respect to their different tumor locations and age incidences.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It is harder to specify what this policy should be.The Clinton administration, fingering the Iranian regime as an unreformed international terrorist, cut off all dealings in 1995; the following year it slapped sanctions on any non-American firm that invested in Iranian oil or gas.

The Economist

"It's hard to specify a single source for the opposition," says Rev Wendell Griffin, a Baptist pastor and judge in Arkansas.

The Guardian

The tricky thing about unconscious biases is that it's harder to specify who's responsible for countering them.

Vice

At what point we realize that disaster awaits, and that these contented lives, like all lives, can be caught in a riptide, is hard to specify.

The New Yorker

This procedure would make good sense if one thought that there is a natural kind ontological arguments which our practice carves out, but for which is hard to specify defining conditions.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is hard to specify", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is difficult to define or determine. Providing additional context or examples can enhance clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it is hard to specify" without providing any indication of why it is difficult. Instead, briefly explain the complexities or uncertainties involved to give the statement more weight and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is hard to specify" functions as a commentary or assessment on the difficulty of defining, determining, or articulating something with precision. As Ludwig AI demonstrates, this phrase appears frequently in both academic and journalistic writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is hard to specify" is a versatile phrase used to express difficulty in defining or determining something precisely. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in both academic and journalistic contexts. The phrase functions as a commentary on uncertainty or complexity, and while it has a neutral tone it leans to formal contexts, it is important to use it with clarity, providing additional context when possible. Alternatives include "it is difficult to define" or "it is challenging to determine". Overall, understanding and using "it is hard to specify" effectively enhances the precision and clarity of written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is difficult to define

Replaces "hard" with "difficult" and "specify" with "define", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

it is challenging to determine

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "specify" with "determine", suggesting a demanding but achievable task.

it is not easy to pinpoint

Replaces "hard" with "not easy" and "specify" with "pinpoint", indicating a lack of simplicity in identifying something exactly.

it is tough to delineate

Changes "hard" to "tough" and "specify" to "delineate", implying a struggle to clearly define the boundaries.

it is problematic to ascertain

Replaces "hard" with "problematic" and "specify" with "ascertain", suggesting that there are issues in confirming something.

it is complex to articulate

Substitutes "hard" with "complex" and "specify" with "articulate", implying the intricacies involved in expressing something clearly.

it is obscure to identify

Changes "hard" to "obscure" and "specify" to "identify", indicating that the object of specification is not easily recognized.

it remains vague to characterize

Replaces "hard" with "remains vague" and "specify" with "characterize", highlighting the continuing ambiguity in describing something.

defining it is no simple matter

Rephrases the entire sentence to emphasize that the act of defining something is complicated and not straightforward.

clearly stating it is a hurdle

Changes the sentence structure to highlight the difficulty as a "hurdle" or obstacle to clear and express clearly.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "it is difficult to define", "it is challenging to determine", or "it is not easy to pinpoint" depending on the context.

How to use "it is hard to specify" in a sentence?

Use "it is hard to specify" when you want to express that something is difficult to define, determine, or articulate precisely. For example: "When it comes to the exact timeline of the project, "it is hard to specify" when we will reach the final stages."

Which is correct, "it is hard to specify" or "it's hard to specify"?

Both "it is hard to specify" and "it's hard to specify" are correct. "It's" is simply a contraction of "it is" and is suitable for less formal contexts.

What's the difference between "it is hard to specify" and "it is important to specify"?

"It is hard to specify" indicates a difficulty in defining something, while "it is important to specify" emphasizes the necessity of being precise. They have opposite meanings.