not easy to predict

USAGE SUMMARY

"not easy to predict" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or challenging to anticipate or foresee. Example: The stock market is not easy to predict, as it is influenced by various factors such as economic conditions, political events, and investor behavior.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Uranus was not easy to predict.

The Economist

The possibilities are many but not easy to predict.

The New York Times

It is not easy to predict what will happen next.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Are you sure I lost?" Pure Pedro, not easy to predict.

The New York Times - Sports

It is not easy to predict the nasty microbes that will strike.

The Washington Post

However, progress is not easy to predict because these problems interact with each other.

International Journal of Fatigue

For scientists and engineers, dynamics and evolution of complex systems are not easy to predict.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

When age and experience are counterbalanced by youth and energy, it's not easy to predict the outcome.

The New York Times

But even if the Fed acts exactly as expected on Wednesday, it's not easy to predict the market reaction.

The New York Times

The consequences of this updated form of dominion are not easy to predict, as some biologists have warned.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it is not easy to predict which places will suffer snow or rain and which will experience drought.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "not easy to predict", provide context about why something is difficult to foresee. This adds clarity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the unpredictability of a situation. While something might be "not easy to predict", it doesn't necessarily mean it's entirely random or impossible to anticipate with some degree of accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not easy to predict" functions as an adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun or pronoun by expressing the degree of difficulty involved in forecasting or anticipating something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not easy to predict" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase across diverse fields, including news, science, and business. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys uncertainty and difficulty in forecasting. While alternatives like "difficult to foresee" or "unpredictable" exist, "not easy to predict" strikes a balance between formality and accessibility. It's crucial to provide context when using this phrase to enhance clarity, while also avoiding exaggerations of unpredictability. The examples in Ludwig shows, this phrase is common, but that does not mean is abused or less precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to foresee

Focuses on the challenge of seeing into the future.

hard to anticipate

Emphasizes the struggle to expect or prepare for something.

unpredictable

Highlights the inherent lack of predictability in a situation.

challenging to forecast

Emphasizes difficulties in making a forecast.

uncertain

Stresses the lack of certainty about future events.

difficult to determine

Highlights the effort required to reach a conclusion.

not readily apparent

Focuses on the difficulty in immediate understanding or prediction.

it remains to be seen

Emphasizes the future is unknown and requires waiting to find out.

the future is unclear

Highlights the obscure and indefinite nature of future possibilities.

subject to change

Indicates that outcomes are liable to vary.

FAQs

How can I use "not easy to predict" in a sentence?

You can use "not easy to predict" to describe events or outcomes that are difficult to foresee, such as "The impact of the new policy is "not easy to predict"".

What are some alternatives to "not easy to predict"?

Alternatives include "difficult to foresee", "hard to anticipate", or "unpredictable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "difficult to predict" instead of "not easy to predict"?

While both phrases are acceptable, "difficult to predict" might be perceived as slightly more formal than "not easy to predict". The difference is subtle and context-dependent.

What makes something "not easy to predict"?

Factors contributing to something being "not easy to predict" can include complex interactions, incomplete data, or inherent randomness in the system or event being considered.