struggle to relate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggle to relate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing difficulties in understanding or connecting with someone else's experiences or feelings. Example: "Many people struggle to relate to the challenges faced by those living in poverty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The fear is not just that cool Washington will increasingly struggle to relate to America, but also that America will struggle to relate to it.

The Washington Post

Many engineering students have little inherent interest in control topics and struggle to relate these to their career goals.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

Similarly, with a fortune in excess of £10bn, he would probably struggle to relate to her difficulty financing her hobby.

The Guardian

The rest of the actors struggle to relate to one another, which under the circumstances is unwise.

The New York Times

Those who struggle to relate to large numbers of deaths in Africa can connect with a father who lost his daughter in such terrible circumstances.

Independent

They argue that audiences will otherwise struggle to relate, treating white experience as neutral, even universal, and dismissing others as particular and limited.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Struggling to relate to their younger classmates.

The New York Times

He also struggled to relate to his domineering father.

University of California, Berkeley

They may find themselves struggling to relate to and love a child who, seemingly, no longer loves them back.

The New Yorker

Having spent so much of his adolescent years around American military bases, he struggles to relate to other Afghans.

The New York Times

You believe in her novels as a world apart, yet also find yourself struggling to relate that world to your own life.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggle to relate", ensure that the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify who is struggling and what they are struggling to relate to.

Common error

Avoid using "struggle to relate" as a blanket statement. Instead, provide specific reasons why someone might struggle to relate to a particular situation or group of people. This adds depth and credibility to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to relate" functions as a verb phrase indicating difficulty in establishing a connection, understanding or empathizing with something or someone. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms the phrase's validity and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struggle to relate" effectively conveys a difficulty in understanding or connecting with something or someone. Ludwig confirms the validity and common usage of this phrase in the English language. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, from formal writing to casual conversation. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context and specify the nature of the struggle to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "find it hard to connect" or "have difficulty understanding" can be used depending on the nuances you wish to convey. By avoiding overgeneralizations and offering clear reasons for the difficulty, writers can enhance the impact and credibility of their message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a hard time relating

Uses "hard time" instead of "struggle", maintaining the same meaning.

find it hard to connect

Emphasizes the difficulty in establishing a connection.

have trouble understanding

Similar to "have difficulty understanding" but uses "trouble".

have difficulty understanding

Focuses on the lack of comprehension.

struggle to empathize

Shortened version focusing on empathy.

find it challenging to empathize

Highlights the struggle with feeling another's emotions.

find it difficult to identify with

Adds "difficult" to emphasize the degree of challenge.

cannot connect with

Directly states the inability to form a bond.

cannot identify with

Highlights the inability to see oneself in another.

fail to grasp

Focuses on the lack of understanding or comprehension.

FAQs

What does it mean to "struggle to relate"?

To "struggle to relate" means to have difficulty understanding, empathizing with, or connecting to someone else's experiences, feelings, or perspectives.

How can I use "struggle to relate" in a sentence?

You can use "struggle to relate" to describe a person's difficulty in connecting with a concept or another person's situation. For example: "Many students "struggle to relate" to abstract mathematical concepts."

What can I say instead of "struggle to relate"?

You can use alternatives like "find it hard to connect", "have difficulty understanding", or "cannot connect with" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "struggle to relate to" or "struggle relating to"?

Both forms can be grammatically correct depending on sentence structure. "Struggle to relate to" is generally more common and clear. "Struggle relating to" can work, but ensure the phrasing is natural and unambiguous.