struggle to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'struggle to understand' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used when you want to describe the difficulty of comprehending something. For example, "I struggled to understand the complex instructions of the new software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its inhabitants struggle to understand what happened.

The Guardian

I struggle to understand your position on voter verification laws.

The New York Times

But many left-leaning activists struggle to understand his reasoning.

The New Yorker

This is a move that French people struggle to understand.

The Guardian - Opinion

To this day I struggle to understand why.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There is still a struggle to understand each other.

The Guardian - Film

And no wonder people struggle to understand him still.

The New York Times - Books

A lot of people struggle to understand George Osborne.

The Guardian - Sport

I think I struggle to understand the need to destroy.

The Washington Post

First year students struggle to understand the concepts in introductory engineering physics courses.

Procedia Engineering

In other chapters, he compares science's struggle to understand the nature of light with Christian theology's struggle to understand the nature of Christ.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggle to understand", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the difficulty in comprehension. Provide specific examples or details to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "struggle to understand" as a vague statement. Always specify what is difficult to understand and, if possible, why. For example, instead of saying "I struggle to understand the concept", specify "I struggle to understand the concept of quantum entanglement because the explanations are highly abstract."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to understand" functions as a verb phrase, indicating difficulty in comprehending or grasping something. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. It describes an ongoing effort to make sense of something that is not immediately clear.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struggle to understand" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey difficulty in comprehending something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for diverse contexts ranging from academic discourse to everyday conversations. The phrase's usage is prevalent in News & Media, Academia, and Science. To enhance clarity, specify the subject of difficulty and provide context. Alternatives such as "have difficulty understanding" and "find it hard to understand" offer slight variations in formality and emphasis. When using "struggle to understand", ensure you provide specific examples or details to clarify the cause of the comprehension challenge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have difficulty understanding

This alternative uses a more general term "difficulty" and is slightly more formal.

find it hard to understand

This phrase emphasizes the perceived difficulty in understanding.

have a hard time understanding

Similar to the previous phrase, this highlights the difficulty experienced.

find it challenging to understand

Replaces "hard" with "challenging", making it slightly more formal and emphasizing the demanding nature of understanding.

grapple with understanding

This uses a more active verb, "grapple", to suggest a more intense effort to understand.

wrestle with understanding

Similar to "grapple", "wrestle" conveys a sense of actively struggling to comprehend.

struggle to grasp

This alternative uses "grasp" instead of "understand", focusing on the act of mentally seizing or comprehending something.

find it difficult to comprehend

This alternative replaces "understand" with "comprehend", which is a more formal term.

labor to understand

This phrase suggests a strenuous effort in understanding, using the verb "labor".

have trouble understanding

This is a more casual alternative, replacing "difficulty" with "trouble".

FAQs

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

You can use "struggle to understand" to express difficulty in comprehending something, like "I "struggle to understand" the instructions" or "Many students "struggle to understand" abstract concepts".

What are some alternatives to "struggle to understand"?

Alternatives include phrases like "have difficulty understanding", "find it hard to understand", or "have a hard time understanding depending on the context.

Is it better to say "struggle to understand" or "struggle with understanding"?

"Struggle to understand" and "struggle with understanding" are both grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. "Struggle to understand" is more common, but "struggle with understanding" can be used to emphasize the ongoing effort or process.

What's the difference between "struggle to understand" and "fail to understand"?

"Struggle to understand" implies an effort is being made to comprehend something but with difficulty, while "fail to understand" suggests a lack of comprehension without necessarily implying effort. For instance, you might "struggle to understand" a complex theory, but "fail to understand" a simple instruction due to carelessness.