not easy to use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not easy to use" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to emphasize that something is difficult or challenging to use. For example: "The new software was not easy to use, so I found myself struggling to get to grips with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is not easy to use monkeys or sheep.

The New Yorker

It's not because they're not easy to use.

The New York Times - Tech

While not easy to use, the mechanism allowed precise adjustment.

The New York Times

Course Lab authoring tool was perceived as not easy to use and learn.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Most of them, however, are not easy to use it extensively for the new users.

Proceedings of the Twentieth International Cryogenic Engineering Conference (ICEC20)

EC2 is affordable, scalable, and reliable but not easy to use.

The Economist

When the readers finally arrived, they were not easy to use.

MIT Technology Review

But they are not easy to use for field engineers due to either huge past data requirement or complicated calculations.

Perspectives in Science

But it is not easy to use, and has a few controls that seem too small for fingertips.

The New York Times

The Promethease report was the most detailed, although its clunky, bare-bones design is not easy to use.

MIT Technology Review

Numerical algorithms based mostly on Finite Element Method (FEM) are unobtainable and not easy to use by the ship crew and unspecialized engineers.

Marine Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing software or technical equipment, follow "not easy to use" with specific examples of the usability issues. This provides concrete details that help the reader understand the challenges involved.

Common error

Avoid simply stating something is "not easy to use" without further explanation. Provide context. For example, instead of saying "The software is not easy to use", specify "The software is "not easy to use" because the interface is cluttered and the instructions are unclear."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not easy to use" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, describing its usability. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English, emphasizing difficulty or challenges. It often implies that the subject requires effort or skill to operate effectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not easy to use" is a grammatically correct and commonly employed expression to describe something that presents usability challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage, particularly within scientific and news media contexts. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide specific examples of the usability issues to offer concrete details. Related phrases include "difficult to operate" and "user-unfriendly", which can be used as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoiding overgeneralizations and providing context ensures clarity and enhances the informative value of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

user-unfriendly

Directly addresses the lack of ease for the user.

difficult to operate

Focuses on the difficulty in the practical operation of something.

challenging to utilize

Highlights the challenge involved in making effective use of something.

not intuitive to use

Indicates that the operation is not obvious or self-explanatory.

complicated to work with

Emphasizes the complexity that makes something hard to manage or use.

cumbersome to handle

Focuses on the awkwardness or difficulty in physically or practically managing something.

hard to manage

Suggests difficulty in overseeing or controlling something.

requires significant effort to use

Highlights the amount of effort needed to operate or utilize effectively.

not straightforward to implement

Focuses on the complexity in applying or putting something into effect.

laborious to employ

Emphasizes the effort required to use something, suggesting it is time-consuming and tiring.

FAQs

What does "not easy to use" mean?

The phrase "not easy to use" means something is difficult or challenging to operate or utilize. It implies that the subject requires significant effort or skill to use effectively.

What are some alternatives to saying "not easy to use"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to operate", "user-unfriendly", or "complicated to work with" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not easy to use"?

Yes, the phrase "not easy to use" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English. It follows standard grammatical rules.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "not easy to use"?

It's appropriate to use "not easy to use" in various contexts, such as describing software, tools, equipment, or even abstract concepts that are complex or challenging to understand or implement. For example, "The new software is "not easy to use" for beginners."