problematic to distinguish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problematic to distinguish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing difficulties in differentiating between two or more concepts, items, or situations. Example: "In this study, it is often problematic to distinguish between correlation and causation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is often problematic to distinguish between a new or residual defect on lung scintigraphy or helical CT.

Chest

Sibling psychiatric disorder was similarly defined as it proved problematic to distinguish as risk or outcome.

BMC Psychiatry

It may be problematic to distinguish metaplasia of the gastric cardia from metaplasia of the BE and GEJ [ 10].

BMC Gastroenterology

In these cases, it becomes problematic to distinguish between a receptor that does not respond to the applied glutamate concentrations and a receptor that is expressed too poorly to detect.

ACS Chemical Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What I think is ethically problematic is the attempt to distinguish the derivation from the use of these cell lines or public versus private sponsorship of these activities.

The New York Times - Health

Staff screening may be useful but is problematic as it needs to distinguish between transient carriage and longer-term colonisation.

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

It's pretty rudimentary and it's easy to see how height could ultimately be a problematic differentiator when attempting to distinguish the age of users in order to utilize parental controls.

TechCrunch

In order to distinguish problematic and unproblematic developments, it is more revealing to analyse whether behavioural problems decrease, increase or are stable than only to look at the level of behaviour problems at a certain age.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

A benefit of this approach is that nursing units would be better able to distinguish problematic or beneficial trends from fluctuations likely due to chance.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

This confounding factor is problematic, as it is difficult to distinguish the cause and effect.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

(4:415) This is a claim he uses not only to distinguish assertoric from problematic imperatives, but also to argue for the imperfect duty of helping others.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "problematic to distinguish", ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "problematic to distinguish" when simpler terms like "difficult to see" or "hard to tell" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can obscure meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problematic to distinguish" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied or stated subject. It describes a quality of a situation or comparison, indicating that differentiation is difficult or causes issues. As seen in Ludwig, Ludwig AI confirms the phrase as usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "problematic to distinguish" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey the difficulty in differentiating between two or more entities. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While versatile, it is most commonly encountered in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what is being compared to enhance clarity. Simpler alternatives like "difficult to differentiate" may be preferred in less complex comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to differentiate

Replaces "problematic" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the challenge of differentiation.

hard to discern

Emphasizes the difficulty in perceiving or recognizing a distinction.

challenging to differentiate

Similar to "difficult to differentiate", but suggests a more stimulating or engaging difficulty.

not easy to distinguish

A more explicit way of stating the difficulty in making a distinction.

troublesome to differentiate

Highlights the bothersome nature of the differentiation process.

complicated to distinguish

Indicates that the distinction involves complexities.

blurring the lines between

Uses a figurative expression to describe the lack of clear distinction.

lack of clear distinction

Focuses on the absence of a well-defined difference.

difficult to tell apart

Highlights the difficulty in visually or perceptually differentiating items.

indistinguishable from

Suggests that the items are so similar that they cannot be told apart.

FAQs

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

You can use "problematic to distinguish" to describe situations where differentiating between two or more things is difficult or creates problems. For example, "It is often "difficult to distinguish" between correlation and causation in observational studies."

What are some alternatives to "problematic to distinguish"?

Alternatives include "difficult to differentiate", "hard to discern", or "challenging to distinguish", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "problematic to distinguish" grammatically correct?

Yes, "problematic to distinguish" is grammatically correct. It follows a standard construction where "problematic" is an adjective describing the difficulty, and "to distinguish" is an infinitive phrase explaining what is difficult.

Which is correct: "problematic to distinguish" or "problematic distinguishing"?

"Problematic to distinguish" is the more common and generally preferred construction. "Problematic distinguishing" could be grammatically correct in some contexts, but it's less frequently used and may sound awkward. It's usually safer to use "problematic to distinguish".