too difficult to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too difficult to comprehend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is overly complex or challenging to understand. Example: "The scientific paper was filled with jargon, making it too difficult to comprehend for the average reader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As a physician, he knew that his mind had locked away things that were too difficult to comprehend.

The New York Times

And finally, that sometimes, it's better to think highly of people rather than to assume your product will be too difficult to comprehend.

TechCrunch

Furthermore, there might still be a role for verbal terms in written information, for example for people with difficulties in understanding numbers, or when large amounts of numbers make information too difficult to comprehend.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Specific words (i.e., irritable, stressed) were difficult to comprehend for some children and items were sometimes too vague or ambiguous to be clearly understood.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Somehow, that fact was difficult to comprehend.

The New Yorker

"It's difficult to comprehend," Primeau said.

The New York Times - Sports

The size of the plane is difficult to comprehend.

The New York Times - Science

Mr. Dormer said the killings were "very difficult to comprehend".

The New York Times

"What did formerly seem to me difficult to comprehend, was now become of an easy solution".

The New Yorker

His reactions to losing were sometimes extreme and difficult to comprehend.

The Guardian - Sport

"Then to find out I won was really difficult to comprehend.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts or complex information, use "too difficult to comprehend" to clearly indicate a high level of complexity that hinders understanding. For instance, "The implications of quantum entanglement are often too difficult to comprehend for those without a physics background."

Common error

Avoid using "too difficult to comprehend" when something is simply unfamiliar or requires a small amount of research. Reserve it for situations where the complexity truly presents a significant barrier to understanding, rather than a lack of initial knowledge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too difficult to comprehend" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a quality or state of something being excessively challenging to understand. The Ludwig AI affirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too difficult to comprehend" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that denotes a high level of complexity hindering understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits best in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While effective in conveying significant difficulty in understanding, it is important to avoid overusing it for concepts that only require a bit of initial research. Alternatives such as "too complex to understand" and "beyond my understanding" can offer nuanced variations of the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too complex to understand

This alternative emphasizes the intricacy making something hard to grasp.

beyond my understanding

This suggests the concept exceeds one's ability to grasp it personally.

hard to make sense of

This alternative focuses on the challenge of finding coherence or meaning.

difficult to grasp

Focuses on the act of mentally seizing or understanding something.

challenging to understand

Emphasizes the effort required to achieve understanding.

incomprehensible to me

Highlights a personal inability to understand.

not easily understood

Focuses on the lack of ease in understanding the concept.

difficult to fathom

Implies a deep, almost mysterious difficulty in understanding.

puzzling to comprehend

Highlights the confusing or perplexing nature of the subject.

over my head

A more informal way of saying something is beyond one's current comprehension level.

FAQs

How can I use "too difficult to comprehend" in a sentence?

You can use "too difficult to comprehend" to describe concepts, theories, or situations that are very complex and hard to understand. For example: "The mathematical proof was "too difficult to comprehend" without advanced training."

What are some alternatives to "too difficult to comprehend"?

Alternatives include phrases like "too complex to understand", "beyond my understanding", or "hard to make sense of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "too difficult to comprehend" in writing?

Use "too difficult to comprehend" when describing something that poses a significant cognitive challenge, often due to its inherent complexity or abstract nature. It's best suited for situations where specialized knowledge or background is needed to understand the topic fully.

Is "difficult to comprehend" different from "too difficult to comprehend"?

"Difficult to comprehend" indicates a general challenge in understanding, while ""too difficult to comprehend"" suggests that the difficulty is so great as to be nearly impossible to understand, implying a higher degree of complexity or abstruseness.