not easily understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not easily understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is complex or difficult to comprehend. Example: "The instructions were so technical that they were not easily understood by the average user."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Britain's railways are not easily understood.

The Guardian

The law is intricate and not easily understood".

The New York Times

Foreign legal systems (including the Scottish) are not easily understood by the English.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was one of those sister things, not easily understood by the outside world.

The New York Times

"On the face of it, it's not easily understood," the official said.

The New York Times

These parameters are often coupled and their relationships not easily understood.

Design Studies

The message of the new brand, however, was not easily understood.

The New York Times

Parts of Shakespeare's comedies are not easily understood, even by a British audience.

Independent

However, this task is challenging since both medical problem-solving and the learning environments are complex and not easily understood.

The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences

Despite its fundamental importance in the evaluation of diagnostic tests, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is not easily understood.

Academic Radiology

But the language she spoke — Martian — was not easily understood, versed as we were in Spanish, English, Russian and Urdu.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the phrase "not easily understood" with simpler terms like "hard to grasp" or "difficult to comprehend", especially when writing for a general audience.

Common error

Avoid using excessively complex sentence structures when describing something as "not easily understood". Keep the surrounding language clear and concise to enhance comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not easily understood" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, describing a quality of something that makes it challenging to comprehend. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is correct in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not easily understood" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something presents a challenge in comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While versatile, the phrase can be replaced with simpler alternatives like "hard to grasp" or "difficult to comprehend", particularly for broader audiences. Its use is prevalent in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure surrounding sentences are clear to prevent further complicating the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to grasp

Replaces "easily" with "hard", directly contrasting the ease of understanding.

difficult to comprehend

Substitutes "understood" with the more formal "comprehend", and "easily" with "difficult".

not readily apparent

Shifts the focus to the obviousness of something, rather than the difficulty of understanding it.

obscure

A single-word adjective that implies a lack of clarity and difficulty in understanding.

unfathomable

Suggests that something is beyond understanding, often due to its complexity or mystery.

beyond my comprehension

Personalizes the difficulty, indicating that the speaker is unable to understand something.

elusive

Implies that something is hard to catch or grasp, either physically or intellectually.

enigmatic

Highlights the mysterious and puzzling nature of something.

impenetrable

Suggests that something is impossible to understand or get through.

over my head

An informal expression indicating that something is too difficult for someone to understand.

FAQs

What does "not easily understood" mean?

The phrase "not easily understood" means something is complex or difficult to comprehend. It implies that understanding requires effort or specialized knowledge.

How can I use "not easily understood" in a sentence?

You can use "not easily understood" to describe concepts, instructions, or situations. For example: "The legal jargon was "not easily understood" by the average person."

What are some alternatives to "not easily understood"?

Some alternatives include "hard to grasp", "difficult to comprehend", or "obscure", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "not easily understood" or "difficult to understand"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult to understand" might be slightly more direct and easier to process, while "not easily understood" can add a touch of understatement.