problematic to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problematic to determine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is difficult to decide or identify. For example: "The source of the data is problematic to determine, as the records are incomplete."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

From the outset of this drama, it has been especially problematic to determine Russia's game-plan.

BBC

It is also problematic to determine a k for each species because it varies with stand density and L, unlike k H.

Forest Ecosystems

The rapid decrease in the gadolinium concentration in the tumor, which is in the same order of magnitude than the elimination time of the chelates from the blood, is problematic to determine the most suited moment for irradiation (i.e. higher content of gadolinium in the tissue combined to the lower one in the surrounding healthy tissues).

Cancer Nanotechnology

In the long term, Congress should request a systematic and rigorous examination of each of the areas which appear to be problematic to determine their actual effect on the small business' bottom line and impact on job creation.

Huffington Post

In the long term, Congress should request a systematic and rigorous examination of each of the areas that appear to be problematic to determine their actual effect on the small business' bottom line and impact on job creation.

Huffington Post

However, it remains problematic to determine the parameters of V and K.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Because several storms occurred prior to the anomaly day, it is still problematic to precisely determine which pattern contributed to the anomaly.

Earth, Planets and Space

After decades of assimilation and intermarriage between German Jews and non-Jews, it proved problematic at best to determine just who was who.

Johns Hopkins University

Our objective was to determine problematic aspects of surgical care, including care provided by surgeons before, during, after, and instead of surgery, that negatively affect patient safety.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Understanding the experiences and expectations of women across the continuum of antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care is important to assess the quality of maternal care and to determine problematic areas which could be improved.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

This may prove problematic when you are trying to determine whether or not the baby's belongings are sparking joy in the baby.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "problematic to determine", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the difficulty in determining something. Providing specific reasons enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "problematic to determine" without specifying why it's difficult. For example, instead of saying "The cause is problematic to determine", specify: "The cause is problematic to determine due to incomplete data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problematic to determine" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated noun, indicating that a specific aspect or situation presents difficulties in being ascertained or resolved. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is valid in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

27%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "problematic to determine" is a valid and commonly used phrase that effectively conveys the difficulty of ascertaining or resolving something. As Ludwig AI validates, this phrase finds frequent application across a spectrum of sources from the scientific domain to news media. Its function is primarily to express the challenges associated with determination, and its register is generally neutral to formal. For optimal use, ensure the context clearly indicates why something is problematic to determine, avoiding vague generalizations. Alternatives like "difficult to ascertain" or "hard to establish" can be used to add variety while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to ascertain

Replaces "determine" with the more formal "ascertain" and "problematic" with "difficult".

hard to establish

Substitutes "determine" with "establish" and "problematic" with "hard", indicating a challenge in confirming something.

challenging to figure out

Replaces "determine" with the more informal "figure out" and "problematic" with "challenging".

tough to pinpoint

Uses "pinpoint" in place of "determine", suggesting the difficulty lies in identifying something precisely; "tough" replaces "problematic".

not easy to identify

Emphasizes the lack of ease in identifying something, using a more descriptive approach instead of directly calling it problematic.

poses a challenge to determine

This alternative rephrases the sentence to emphasize that determining something is a challenge.

presents difficulties in determining

Focuses on the difficulties encountered during the determination process.

raises questions about how to determine

Shifts the focus to the questions that arise when trying to determine something.

remains uncertain how to determine

Highlights the uncertainty surrounding the process of determining something.

it's questionable to determine

Highlights the questionable nature of the determination process.

FAQs

How can I use "problematic to determine" in a sentence?

You can use "problematic to determine" to indicate that something is difficult to ascertain or establish. For example, "The exact origin of the artifact is problematic to determine due to the limited historical records".

What are some alternatives to "problematic to determine"?

Some alternatives include "difficult to ascertain", "hard to establish", or "challenging to figure out", depending on the context.

Is "problematic to determine" formal or informal?

The phrase "problematic to determine" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. While not overly informal, it maintains a level of professionalism appropriate for various writing styles.

What makes something "problematic to determine"?

Something might be "problematic to determine" because of incomplete information, conflicting evidence, or complex factors that obscure a clear conclusion. It implies that there are significant obstacles in the determination process.