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I'm trying to express that a certain item's geometric design makes it difficult to shelf, which is why it is often hanged instead. But it is not however "unshelfable".

How can I say "difficult to" in this context? E.g.

As seen in this copy, the cover was usually perforated to be nailed or hanged to a wall due to its unique design, which made it difficult to shelf.

EDIT

Shelve

: to place on a shelf; shelve books

Merriam Webster

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  • 4
    Note: the verb is "to shelve".
    – Laurel ♦
    Jun 8 at 14:52
  • There are many words for things that are hard to handle, like unwieldy, unmanageable, discommodious, but afaik none relates specifically to shelving. Try a thesaurus though.
    – Stuart F
    Jun 8 at 15:02
  • The problem may not be that shelving the package is difficult, but that the shape is asymmetrical, or without a flat bottom, or round. There was an LP in the '70s in a round record jacket - they rolled off shelves! Perhaps specify the difficulty rather than "difficult".
    – Yosef Baskin
    Jun 8 at 15:03
  • 3
    What's wrong with just saying "hard to shelve"? Why do you need to create a new word for this?
    – tchrist ♦
    Jun 8 at 15:58
  • 3
    BTW..."hanged" is the past participle of the verb meaning to "put to death by noose"; the better word form in this case is "hung". i.e. "hung on the wall" Apart from that, would not ergonomic/unergonomic work?
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    Jun 8 at 16:10

1 Answer 1

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How about recasting the sentence thus instead?

As seen..., the unique design of the cover renders it unconducive to shelving.

Lexico defines unconducive as:

(usually unconducive to)

Making a certain situation or outcome unlikely or impossible.

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1
  • hang a picture on the wall, nail a picture to the wall. Ergo, shelve as a verb simply does not collocate here.
    – Lambie
    Jun 9 at 15:59

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