tricky to detect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tricky to detect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult to notice or identify, often in contexts like technology, behavior, or problems. Example: "The malware was cleverly disguised, making it tricky to detect by standard antivirus software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But it is difficult to use this method to see very distant dark matter, and cold ordinary matter remains tricky to detect as well.

BBC

Cracks in composites can be awfully tricky to detect: Mechanics must walk around tapping the laminated exterior of the plane with a hammer to see if it sounds hollow; if so, the part is replaced.

Forbes

Well, it can be tricky to detect sometimes; these things can sneak up on you.

Huffington Post

Secondly, the analysis misses some planets simply because the tiny amount of starlight they block makes them tricky to detect.

Huffington Post

Mutations in ncRNAs can be tricky to detect, because the changes do not produce obvious functional changes in the way that mutations in protein-coding genes do.

Genome Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This may be tricky to find, though.

WikiHow

Underwater bubbles are tricky things to monitor, and the usual way to detect them is to use sound.

The Guardian

The C-terminal portion of FTO has been trickier to manipulate and we have been unable to detect this deletion mutant using Western blot.

Bioscience Reports

Hard to detect.

Forbes

Learn to detect lies.

WikiHow

Primaries are tricky to cover.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues or defects, use "tricky to detect" to emphasize the sophistication or subtlety of the problem. This adds nuance to the explanation and highlights the challenges involved in finding a solution.

Common error

Avoid using "tricky to detect" for situations where the difficulty is obvious or straightforward. For instance, saying "the missing sock was tricky to detect in the brightly lit room" is an overstatement. Simpler phrases like "hard to find" are more appropriate for common, easily understood scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tricky to detect" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun, followed by an infinitive. It describes the quality of something being difficult to perceive or identify. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tricky to detect" is a valid and useful phrase for describing something that is not easily noticed or identified, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically correct and generally appropriate, its frequency is rare. Its primary function is to convey a sense of difficulty or subtlety in detection. It appears most often in news and media, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it fits the level of complexity in the situation being described; avoid using it in overly simplistic scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to spot

Replaces "tricky" with "hard" and "detect" with "spot", offering a more direct and simpler alternative.

difficult to discern

Substitutes "tricky" with "difficult" and "detect" with "discern", introducing a slightly more formal tone.

challenging to identify

Replaces "tricky" with "challenging" and "detect" with "identify", suggesting a demanding but achievable task.

not easily noticed

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the lack of ease in noticing something.

obscure and undetectable

Emphasizes both the hidden nature and the inability to detect something, adding intensity.

elusive to find

Highlights the evasive quality of the object being searched for, making it hard to locate.

subtle and difficult to perceive

Focuses on the subtlety of something that makes it hard to perceive or notice.

requires keen observation to identify

Shifts the focus to the observer's skill needed to identify something, indicating the difficulty.

presents a detection problem

Frames the situation as a problem related to detection, highlighting the inherent difficulty.

imperceptible without specialized tools

Highlights that specific equipment may be needed to detect, conveying the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "tricky to detect" in a sentence?

You can use "tricky to detect" to describe something difficult to notice or identify. For example: "The subtle changes in the data were "tricky to detect" without specialized software."

What are some alternatives to "tricky to detect"?

Alternatives include "hard to spot", "difficult to discern", or "challenging to identify", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "tricky to detect" or "difficult to detect"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "tricky to detect" often implies a subtle or deceptive quality making detection difficult. "Difficult to detect" is a more general statement of the challenge.

What makes something "tricky to detect"?

Something might be "tricky to detect" because it's well-hidden, camouflaged, or its presence is subtle, requiring specialized tools or expertise to identify.