quite difficult to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite difficult to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is challenging to comprehend or grasp. Example: "The instructions were quite difficult to understand, leading to confusion among the team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I'm just finding it quite difficult to understand," she said.

The Guardian

Jennifer Morag Henderson, whose biography of Tey will be published this November, says, "If you didn't know the controversy about the Princes in the Tower, it would be quite difficult to understand".

The New Yorker

It is quite difficult to understand the relationship between macro-parameters and micro-parameters in different cases of micro-parameters' variation.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

It is quite difficult to understand your place in life from being this guy who will never be forgotten to being the guy worrying about your next bill.

BBC

"Mathematically - and I was not too bad in maths - it's quite difficult to understand the logic of his statement," Wenger reflected.

BBC

In addition, some faculty members face students' active opposition to active teaching and learning (Dembo and Seli, 2004), which can be quite difficult to understand and address.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I found it quite difficult to read and understand, and I had to go back to a virology textbook a few times.

eLife

1) The major problem is that all of the reviewers found the manuscript to be quite difficult to read and to understand.

eLife

Although the engineering behind the three techniques may be quite advanced and difficult to understand, the essence of each one can be grasped by a few examples that are freely available on the web.

Indexing From Thesauri to the Semantic Web

In many instances, variables are not clearly defined (i.e., different names may refer to the same concept, whereas one name may refer to quite different things), making it difficult to understand what the study is attempting to measure.

BMC Family Practice

The reading of primary articles helped them get acquainted with the methodological possibilities, but as methodology sections in science articles are quite condensed, students found them difficult to understand in the beginning.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quite difficult to understand", ensure the context provides some indication of why the subject matter is challenging. This adds clarity and depth to your communication.

Common error

Avoid using "quite difficult to understand" when the subject is only mildly complex. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite difficult to understand" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied or stated noun. It expresses a subjective assessment of the level of difficulty associated with comprehending something. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite difficult to understand" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something that presents a moderate challenge in comprehension. Ludwig confirms that it's perfectly acceptable in written English. While versatile, it's important to ensure the context justifies its use, avoiding overstatement of difficulty. Alternatives like "somewhat challenging to comprehend" or "rather hard to grasp" can provide nuanced variations. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat challenging to comprehend

Changes wording to emphasize the level of difficulty and replaces 'understand' with a more formal synonym.

rather hard to grasp

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "understand" with "grasp", making it slightly more informal.

not easy to make sense of

Uses a more descriptive expression to convey the difficulty in understanding.

poses a considerable comprehension challenge

Presents the concept as a formal challenge, suitable for academic contexts.

presents significant interpretative obstacles

Focuses on the obstacles in interpretation, often used in academic or technical fields.

requires considerable effort to comprehend

Highlights the effort needed to understand something.

calls for in-depth analysis to decipher

Suggests a need for deep analysis to understand the subject.

tough to get your head around

An informal expression indicating difficulty in understanding.

hard to fathom

Uses a more sophisticated word for "understand", implying a deeper level of incomprehension.

knotty to unravel

Uses a metaphor to describe the complexity and difficulty in understanding.

FAQs

What does "quite difficult to understand" mean?

The phrase "quite difficult to understand" indicates that something is challenging but not impossible to comprehend. It suggests a moderate level of complexity.

How can I use "quite difficult to understand" in a sentence?

You might say, "The instructions were "quite difficult to understand", so I needed extra help" or "The theory is "quite difficult to understand" without a background in physics."

What are some alternatives to "quite difficult to understand"?

Alternatives include "somewhat challenging to comprehend", "rather hard to grasp", or "not easy to make sense of", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "very difficult to understand" or "quite difficult to understand"?

"Very difficult to understand" implies a higher degree of difficulty than "quite difficult to understand". The choice depends on the specific context and the level of challenge you wish to convey.