sometimes difficult to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sometimes difficult to understand' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is sometimes hard to understand, or when you want to emphasize that something is not always easy to understand. For example: "The instructions for this task are sometimes difficult to understand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

(Group actors were so authentic that it was sometimes difficult to understand what they were saying).

The New Yorker

It is sometimes difficult to understand, but in the end, the big clubs are big clubs and small clubs remain small.

The Guardian - Sport

Kimberg's periwigged Count suggests genuine menace and foppish absurdity, though it's sometimes difficult to understand why Nadine Benjamin's Countess remains devoted to him.

The Guardian - Music

"Booth had not yet received the brain procedures that would later reverse some of his Parkinson's symptoms and it was sometimes difficult to understand his speech," Ms. Lee wrote in a blog post on Monday.

The New York Times

4. By proposing minimal changes, it defines small but obtainable objectives, which will be as much as to increase therapeutic alliance and the tolerance of patients sometimes difficult to understand. 5. Finally, the consultation-liaison psychiatrist must know the language of his/her interlocutors.

L'Encéphale

Many of the participants in the French revolution thought long and hard about such questions, and while it is sometimes difficult to understand their thoughts, and not always comfortable to do so, it is always interesting to go back into that perennial political laboratory and try.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

During her undergraduate research project, she "found [it] sometimes very difficult to understand why people wanted to give up their independence," she says.

Science Magazine

"The situation in which we live now provides us with new challenges which sometimes are difficult to understand".

Los Angeles Times

A smoker's reluctance to use assistance to quit may sometimes be difficult to understand.

BMJ Open

Play has a lot of useful infrastructure in place to support forms, but sometimes it is difficult to understand, or even to find it in the first place.

The Guardian

That production made some critics quite cross, and Rice has been honest about the fact that, like many people, she sometimes finds Shakespeare difficult to understand.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing concepts that are generally easy to understand but have occasional complexities, using "sometimes difficult to understand" can provide a balanced and accurate portrayal.

Common error

Avoid using "sometimes difficult to understand" when the subject is almost always incomprehensible. Opt for phrases like "generally incomprehensible" or "consistently challenging to grasp" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometimes difficult to understand" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by describing a quality or characteristic. As Ludwig AI suggests, it acknowledges potential comprehension challenges without overstating difficulty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sometimes difficult to understand" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for expressing that something presents occasional comprehension challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Found frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts, this phrase strikes a balance between acknowledging potential confusion and implying general understandability. When writing, it's important to avoid overstating difficulty and to consider more precise alternatives depending on the specific context. Also consider that "often difficult to understand" implies a more recurring problem. Always aim for accuracy and clarity when describing the challenges of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally hard to grasp

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "understand" with "grasp", focusing on comprehension.

at times challenging to comprehend

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "understand" with "comprehend", adding a layer of complexity.

now and then tough to decipher

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult" and "decipher" in place of "understand", suggesting a need to decode.

intermittently puzzling to figure out

Employs "puzzling" and "figure out" to convey a sense of confusion and problem-solving.

sporadically obscure to perceive

Replaces "difficult" with "obscure" and "understand" with "perceive", highlighting a lack of clarity.

selectively complex to interpret

Uses "complex" instead of "difficult" and "interpret" in place of "understand", indicating multi-layered meaning.

irregularly abstruse to follow

Substitutes "difficult" with "abstruse" and "understand" with "follow", suggesting an issue with tracking logic.

sometimes intricate to unravel

Employs "intricate" and "unravel" to imply a need to disentangle complexity.

periodically vague to assimilate

Replaces "difficult" with "vague" and "understand" with "assimilate", focusing on incorporation of knowledge.

every so often opaque to discern

Uses "opaque" instead of "difficult" and "discern" in place of "understand", highlighting a lack of transparency.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "sometimes difficult to understand" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "occasionally challenging to comprehend", "intermittently complex to interpret", or "sporadically obscure to perceive" for a more sophisticated tone. You can read about "occasionally challenging to comprehend" in our examples.

When is it appropriate to use "sometimes difficult to understand" in writing?

Use "sometimes difficult to understand" when referring to concepts, instructions, or situations that are generally understandable but may present occasional challenges or complexities. This phrasing acknowledges the potential for confusion without overstating the overall difficulty. For a related example you can see the explanations of "at times challenging to comprehend".

What are some common synonyms for "difficult to understand"?

Common synonyms include "hard to grasp", "challenging to comprehend", "tough to decipher", and "puzzling to figure out". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sometimes difficult to understand" the same as "often difficult to understand"?

No. "Sometimes difficult to understand" implies that the difficulty is occasional, while "often difficult to understand" suggests that the difficulty is more frequent. The choice between the two depends on the actual frequency of the difficulty you're describing.