the cause is difficult to isolate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the cause is difficult to isolate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where identifying the specific reason for an issue or phenomenon is challenging. Example: "In this complex experiment, the cause is difficult to isolate, making it hard to draw definitive conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

When unmodulated, the signal is difficult to isolate from low-frequency noise.

Johns Hopkins University

Second, violence against women has a variety of causes and it is difficult to isolate the distinct contribution of pornography.

SEP

Adverse occurrences are products of complex patient and treatment factors, often occurring in cascades where it is difficult to isolate the causes and effects of individual events.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

There are diverse views as to why venture funds have struggled in part because it is difficult to isolate causes of failure, and in part because the funds' returns are measured over a decade-plus.

TechCrunch

However, it is difficult to isolate its causes, which in turn limits the recommendation of appropriate policy responses.

BMC Oral Health

Surface energy balance (SEB) observations, however, reveal that there is an imbalance in surface flux measurements and that it is difficult to isolate those flux measurements causing the imbalance errors.

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

It is difficult to isolate this value in well tests.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

It is difficult to isolate costs for heart failure.

BMJ Open

The rate of molecular evolution is known to vary in three predominant ways (changes in: mutation rate, population size, and selection coefficients; [1]), but in practice, the specific causes of rate variation are difficult to isolate [2], [3].

Plosone

Given the complexity of urban areas, relationships among variables that cause stream degradation can be difficult to isolate.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Anaerobes have traditionally been viewed as uncommon causes of osteomyelitis because they are difficult to isolate from infectious sites due to their fastidious nature.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "the cause is difficult to isolate", ensure you provide context explaining why it's challenging to identify the cause. This adds clarity and depth to your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "the cause is difficult to isolate" as a blanket statement without any supporting evidence. Always provide some indication of potential contributing factors or complexities to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the cause is difficult to isolate" functions as a statement expressing the challenge in identifying the specific reason for something. It highlights the complexity of a situation where multiple factors might be at play, making it hard to pinpoint the primary driver. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a valid and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the cause is difficult to isolate" is a grammatically correct and usable expression employed to convey the challenge in pinpointing a specific reason or origin amidst complex or confounding factors. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While there are no direct examples in the search results, the phrase can be utilized across different contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal settings. Alternative expressions include "the reason is hard to pinpoint" or "it's challenging to determine the origin". When employing this phrase, ensure to provide context explaining the difficulties in isolating the cause, and avoid overstating the uncertainty without evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the reason is hard to pinpoint

Focuses on the difficulty of identifying the specific reason.

it's challenging to determine the origin

Emphasizes the challenge in finding the source or beginning.

the source is tough to distinguish

Highlights the difficulty in differentiating the source from other factors.

it is not easy to identify the root cause

Focuses on identifying the foundational cause, using a more formal tone.

pinpointing the etiology is problematic

Uses more technical language, focusing on medical or scientific causes.

the contributing factor is elusive

Suggests that the factor is hard to catch or define.

isolating the influence is difficult

Highlights the difficulty of separating the impact.

the determinant is hard to ascertain

Emphasizes the effort in finding the determinant.

the driver is not easily discernible

Focuses on being able to perceive or recognize something.

separating the variables is complex

Focuses on the complexity of distinguishing distinct elements or variables.

FAQs

How can I use "the cause is difficult to isolate" in a sentence?

You can use "the cause is difficult to isolate" when you want to express that identifying the specific reason for something is challenging. For example: "In this complex experiment, the cause is difficult to isolate, making it hard to draw definitive conclusions."

What are some alternatives to "the cause is difficult to isolate"?

You can use alternatives like "the reason is hard to pinpoint", "it's challenging to determine the origin", or "the source is tough to distinguish" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "the cause is difficult to isolate"?

It's appropriate to use "the cause is difficult to isolate" when discussing situations with multiple interacting factors where it's hard to single out one specific factor as the primary reason for an outcome.

What does it mean when "the cause is difficult to isolate"?

It means that there are complexities or confounding variables that make it challenging to determine the definitive reason or origin of a specific event, phenomenon, or problem.