Hard-to-read

Describing something that is difficult or unpleasant to decipher, understand, or follow due to poor legibility, complexity, ambiguity, or excessive length. This can apply to written text, visual displays, or even verbal communication. 'Hard-to-read' implies a significant cognitive effort is required from the reader or observer to extract meaning. The difficulty may stem from various factors, including poor formatting, convoluted sentence structures, technical jargon, or visual clutter. Consequently, the information presented may be easily misunderstood, misinterpreted, or overlooked entirely. The term highlights a deficiency in the clarity and accessibility of communication, making it a key factor in effective and efficient information transfer.

Hard-to-read meaning with examples

• The doctor's handwriting was notoriously hard-to-read, leading to several medication errors in the pharmacy. Patients often struggled to decipher the dosage instructions. The pharmacist spent considerable time deciphering each prescription, which sometimes caused delays. Attempts to improve the handwriting with a dictation tool proved futile. Ultimately, they digitized all the handwritten prescriptions to alleviate the issue.
• The technical manual contained complex diagrams and densely-packed text, making it incredibly hard-to-read for the average user. The lack of clear explanations and user-friendly language further compounded the issue. Many customers abandoned the product and sought out alternative options. The company received consistent feedback about the need to rewrite and simplify the information, focusing on better organization.
• The fine print in the contract was hard-to-read due to its tiny font size and legalistic language. Many clauses were difficult to understand. The customer signed the agreement without fully comprehending the terms. Later, disputes arose when the customer realized they had been unintentionally bound by conditions. Consumer protection laws often address this practice of intentionally obscuring important contract details.
• The website's cluttered layout and the confusing color scheme made the content hard-to-read and unappealing. Users were immediately driven away by the visual chaos. Finding the specific information proved a struggle, leading to high bounce rates. A complete redesign focused on simplicity and intuitive navigation was necessary for usability, resulting in increased user engagement and customer satisfaction.
• The speaker's mumbled delivery and use of complicated vocabulary made his presentation hard-to-read in a verbal format. The audience struggled to follow his train of thought. Most people felt confused and lost interest quickly. Improved communication skills and a focus on clarity could have enhanced the impact of the presentation by holding the audience’s attention and making the information accessible.