it s difficult to

USAGE SUMMARY

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"When you lose, lose, lose all the important games for the last 40 years," says Elkjaer, "it"s difficult to believe you actually can beat the great teams of Europe".

The Guardian - Sport

It?s difficult to be an "out" LGBT scientist, but it?s easier than it used to be!

Science Magazine

Adherence is multifactorial ; it ' s difficult to address it.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It?s difficult for me not to ask, "Well, why are you here then if you hate it so much?" But to each their own.

Science Magazine

However, it is difficult to estimate S e accurately.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

IT'S difficult to classify Bruce Bartlett politically.

The Economist

IT'S difficult to move around on Long Island without feeling slightly ill all the time.

The New York Times

IT'S difficult to imagine a scenario in which America's labour market recovery proceeded as rapidly as the one following the 1982 downturn.

The Economist

IT'S difficult to imagine, a century after the fact, the sense of excitement and new opportunity that electricity brought to modern life.

The New York Times

IT'S difficult to assess the outlook for many of the small companies that Michael Corbett seeks out for the $104 million Perritt MicroCap Opportunities fund.

The New York Times

IT'S difficult to find a year that was not interesting for Jim Warren, but 1977 was as interesting a year as any.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it s difficult to", ensure the subject and context are clear to avoid ambiguity. For complex topics, consider rephrasing with a more specific subject for clarity.

Common error

While acceptable, "it s difficult to" can sometimes sound vague. In formal writing, replace it with more precise language. For example, instead of "it s difficult to understand", try "the concept is complex to understand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it s difficult to" serves as an introductory expression indicating a challenge or obstacle associated with a particular action or task. Ludwig provides various examples demonstrating its usage in different contexts. It is a common structure used to express complexity or the need for effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science & Research

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it s difficult to" functions as a common and grammatically sound phrase for expressing challenges or obstacles. Ludwig AI finds its use across diverse fields like News & Media, Science & Research and Science, however, its frequency can be considered only uncommon. While generally acceptable, writers should consider the context and audience, opting for more precise or formal alternatives in certain situations. The presence of a contraction makes it leaning towards informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is challenging to

Uses a more formal synonym for "difficult", resulting in a slightly more elevated tone.

it is a challenge to

Shifts from describing something as difficult to framing it as a challenge, emphasizing the task-oriented nature.

it is not easy to

Employs a more understated expression of difficulty using a negative construction.

it presents difficulties in

Focuses on the difficulties that arise within a particular context or area.

it is no simple task to

Underlines that something requires skill and effort, positioning it above simple activities.

it poses a problem for

Highlights the problematic nature of something and its potential impact on a specific entity.

it is complex to

Suggests intricacy and layered understanding are needed.

it requires effort to

Emphasizes the need for exertion and work to accomplish something.

it can be arduous to

Arduous implies a particularly strenuous and prolonged level of effort.

it strains resources to

This puts attention on something being problematic due to the pressure and effort put on limited resources.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "it s difficult to"?

You can use phrases like "it is challenging to", "it is not easy to", or "it presents difficulties in" to express similar ideas with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

How can I make my sentences more specific when using "it s difficult to"?

Instead of saying "it s difficult to understand", specify what makes it difficult. For example, "the complex terminology makes it is challenging to understand the report".

Is "it s difficult to" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it s difficult to" might sound informal due to the contraction. In formal writing, consider using the full form, "it is difficult to", or a more sophisticated alternative.

What's the difference between "it's difficult to" and "it's hard to"?

The terms are mostly interchangeable. Some might perceive "hard" as slightly more informal and blunt than "difficult", but in most contexts, they convey the same meaning. Consider to use it is challenging to for a higher register.