More hardly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "More hardly" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when someone intends to express a greater degree of difficulty or effort. Example: "He worked more hardly than anyone else on the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Reading "more" hardly seems to be the solution….

The New Yorker

Encouraging households to borrow more and more hardly builds a firm foundation for future growth.

The Economist

I can only really speak from personal experience, but I can honestly say I don't give a stuff about class any more, hardly even notice it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There has also been a 27 percent reduction in the number of felony matters pending two years or more, hardly the portrait of a "lackadaisical court culture" (editorial, April 22).

The New York Times

However, the shape and arrangement of the nanostructures are more hardly tuned.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Less convincing evidence on the existence of an association between the two diseases is derived from cross-sectional studies where the temporal sequence of occurrence, and possible cause effect relationship, are more hardly recognized.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Less is more" is hardly the author's watchword.

The Guardian - Books

Even more surprising, hardly a week goes by without an announcement of plans for new hotels.

The New York Times

The problem is, giving people more information hardly ever works.

Vice

Hardly more.

The New Yorker

When pressed, he was hardly more forthcoming.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "more hardly" in formal writing. Instead, opt for phrases like "with greater difficulty" or "much harder" to convey your intended meaning clearly and correctly.

Common error

A common mistake is to assume that "hardly" can be directly modified by "more" to form a comparative. "Hardly" already implies a lack or scarcity, so using "more" with it often creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect construction.

Linguistic Context

More hardly is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, this is not standard written English. The intended function often aims to express a comparative degree of difficulty or effort, but it fails to do so effectively within established grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more hardly" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. As Ludwig AI explains, it's an improper construction often used in an attempt to convey greater difficulty or infrequency. While it appears in some news and scientific contexts, it's advisable to replace it with grammatically sound alternatives such as "with greater difficulty", "much harder", or "less frequently" for improved clarity and correctness. Due to its generally recognized incorrectness, this expression is not recommended for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hardly any more

Emphasizes that there is very little, if any, increase or addition.

Barely more

Indicates a very small increase or difference, implying something is only slightly more than another.

Scarcely more

Similar to 'barely more', but suggests that the increase is so small as to be almost negligible.

With greater difficulty

A more formal and grammatically correct way to express increased difficulty.

More difficultly

Focuses on the increased difficulty with which something is done.

Significantly harder

Emphasizes that the increase in difficulty is substantial and noticeable.

Much harder

A simple and direct way to indicate a significant increase in difficulty.

Less frequently

A straightforward way to express that something happens less often.

More infrequently

Indicates that something occurs less often than before.

With more effort

Highlights the increased effort required to accomplish something.

FAQs

Is "More hardly" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "More hardly" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It's better to use alternatives such as "with greater difficulty" or "much harder".

What are some alternatives to "More hardly"?

Depending on the intended meaning, alternatives to "More hardly" include "barely more", "scarcely more", "with greater difficulty", or "less frequently".

When can I use "More hardly" in a sentence?

While not recommended in formal writing, "More hardly" might appear in informal contexts or as a non-standard usage. However, it's generally advisable to choose more precise and grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity.

What's the difference between "More hardly" and "Hardly more"?

"Hardly more" implies 'very little more' or 'scarcely any more'. "More hardly", on the other hand, is generally considered grammatically incorrect and doesn't have a clear, established meaning. It's typically intended to express increased difficulty, for which "with greater difficulty" is more appropriate.