small difficult to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small difficult to" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks clarity, making it unusable without additional context or restructuring. Example: "It is small, difficult to manage."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Brush 12 (F70 Concealer): The F70 is used for concealer in small difficult to reach areas.

Huffington Post

IS transpositions commonly leave traces in the form of small, difficult to recognize, 2-20 nt direct repeats at the excision site.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

However the fleet could also be used to monitor small, difficult-to-detect objects that threaten to strike Earth.

The Guardian

But I'd remind you that when chemical and biological weapons are used, in fact, once they're disseminated they can be put in fairly small, difficult-to-predict areas.

The New York Times

According to entrepreneur Bennett Adamson: "For smaller startups, the talent pool of active candidates is pretty small and difficult to locate.

Huffington Post

The smaller right-sided cyst may be the site of rupture as the ruptured cyst may be small or difficult to visualize following rupture.

Insights into Imaging

The trickle of newcomers is small and difficult to quantify.

The New York Times

But some of the hunters have said the tags, which are small, are difficult to see from a distance.

The New York Times

The biggest problem with MRAM is a relatively small difference, difficult to detect, between its "on" and "off" states.

The New York Times - Tech

It's pretty obvious that it may be doable to be small, and difficult to be medium-sized, where the big players will squeeze the medium player out.

The New York Times

A dime is not only small and difficult to hide behind, but also notably thin, as in the phrase not one thin dime.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe the sentence to clearly connect the concepts. For example, "The sample was too small, making it difficult to analyze" is clearer than using "small difficult to" directly.

Common error

Avoid using "small difficult to" as a standalone phrase. It typically needs a verb or conjunction to link it to another part of the sentence, providing context and completing the meaning. For example, instead of "The task was small difficult to", write "The task was small and difficult to complete."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small difficult to" functions as an adjective phrase that attempts to describe a quality possessing two attributes: limited size and challenging nature. However, according to Ludwig, the phrase is not correct and requires additional words for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "small difficult to" appears in various sources, Ludwig considers it grammatically incorrect in its standalone form. It aims to express a dual quality of limited size and associated challenges. Given its awkwardness, it's best to rephrase for clarity, opting for alternatives like "small and difficult" or more descriptive expressions. The phrase sees limited usage, primarily in news and scientific contexts. When constructing sentences, ensure a clear link between the concepts of "small" and "difficult" to enhance comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor challenge to

Replaces "small" with "minor" and "difficult to" with "challenge to", focusing on the problematic aspect.

slight hurdle to

Substitutes "small" with "slight" and "difficult to" with "hurdle to", emphasizing the obstacle.

modest impediment to

Uses "modest" instead of "small" and "impediment" for "difficult to", indicating a slight obstruction.

tiny barrier to

Emphasizes the size of the obstacle with "tiny" and replaces "difficult to" with "barrier to".

limited capacity for

Replaces the entire phrase with a focus on restricted ability or potential.

constrained ability to

Similar to the previous example, highlighting limitations in capability.

somewhat challenging for

Replaces "small" and "difficult to" with a more general expression of something being not easy.

a bit hard to

Employs simpler vocabulary to convey the meaning of something being somewhat difficult.

restricted by

Focuses on the limitation aspect, implying that something is made difficult because of a restriction.

not easy to

Uses a more straightforward expression to convey difficulty without explicitly mentioning size.

FAQs

How can I properly use the terms "small" and "difficult" together in a sentence?

Ensure a clear grammatical connection, such as "The font was "small and difficult to read"" or "Because the sample was small, it was difficult to analyze".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "small difficult to"?

Consider using phrases like "small and challenging", "minor but difficult", or "limited and complex", depending on the specific context.

Is it ever correct to say "small difficult to"?

While not inherently ungrammatical, it's usually awkward. Rewording to clarify the relationship between "small" and "difficult" will improve clarity.

What are some common situations where I might need to describe something as both "small" and "difficult"?

This often occurs when describing technical challenges, such as "small, difficult to detect signals", or limitations, like "small, difficult to manage budgets".