a hard schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hard schedule" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a challenging or demanding set of tasks, duties, or activities that are set for a particular time frame. For example, "This semester, I'm taking five classes and have a hard schedule with lots of exams and essays to write."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Archives|VETERAN FIVE AT WILLIAMS.; Hopes Are High Although Quintet Has a Hard Schedule.

The New York Times

VETERAN FIVE AT WILLIAMS.; Hopes Are High Although Quintet Has a Hard Schedule.

The New York Times

It's a hard schedule – 12- to 13-hour days five days a week – but it's doubled my earnings to £60,000 to £70,000 a year.

The Guardian - Money

"It's a hard schedule, starting at school and then going to cross-country and then straight to volleyball," said Peterson, who will participate in the prestigious Stanford Invitational on Saturday in Palo Alto.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Three years ago, the Patriots were denied a chance to defend their Super Bowl title despite finishing in a three-way tie for first place in their division and having a harder schedule than either of the other 9-7 thems, the Jets and the Dolphins.

The New York Times

You know, for me, even though presidents have a very hard schedule, you know, and we keep very long hours, you have some more flexibility with your time because we live above the store, so to speak.

The New York Times

"We've had a hard busy schedule and we're still in three major tournaments," explained Lennon.

BBC

"People talk about our hard schedule, but it doesn't matter," said receiver Wayne Chrebet, who caught two touchdown passes yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

We consider a hard decentralized scheduling problem with heterogeneous machines and competing job sets that belong to different self-interested stakeholders (agents).

European Journal of Operational Research

A client once told me that if breathing weren't automatic, he would have a hard time scheduling it in.

Forbes

The recording of the episode was done during the National Basketball Association's regular season, so the producers had a hard time scheduling Johnson's session.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a "hard schedule", be specific about what makes it challenging. Instead of simply stating it's hard, mention the long hours, tight deadlines, or complex tasks involved.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "a hard schedule" without providing context. Explain why it's hard. This adds clarity and provides more informative communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hard schedule" functions as a noun phrase, where "hard" modifies the noun "schedule". It describes the nature or quality of the schedule as being demanding or challenging. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hard schedule" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to describe a challenging or demanding timetable. As per Ludwig AI, it is suitable for written English. While it is not overly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, with News & Media being the most frequent. When using "a hard schedule", be sure to provide context to specify what makes the schedule challenging. Alternatives include "a demanding schedule", "a challenging schedule", or "a busy schedule".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a demanding schedule

Replaces "hard" with "demanding", emphasizing the rigorous nature of the schedule.

a rigorous schedule

Uses "rigorous" instead of "hard", highlighting the strictness and intensity of the schedule.

a challenging schedule

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging", focusing on the difficulty the schedule presents.

a tough schedule

Replaces "hard" with "tough", indicating the schedule is difficult to endure.

a busy schedule

Focuses on the packed nature of the schedule, implying little free time.

a packed schedule

Similar to "busy schedule", this emphasizes the fullness and lack of free slots in the schedule.

a tight schedule

Highlights the lack of flexibility and close timing of events within the schedule.

an intensive schedule

Indicates a schedule with a high concentration of activities in a short period.

a grueling schedule

Emphasizes the exhausting and physically or mentally taxing nature of the schedule.

a strenuous schedule

Replaces "hard" with "strenuous" describing the schedule as requiring great effort or exertion.

FAQs

What does "a hard schedule" mean?

The phrase "a hard schedule" refers to a demanding or challenging timetable filled with tasks, appointments, or activities that require significant effort or time.

How can I use "a hard schedule" in a sentence?

You might say, "Balancing work and family life is difficult when you have "a hard schedule"" or "The athlete maintained "a hard schedule" to prepare for the competition."

What can I say instead of "a hard schedule"?

You can use alternatives like "a demanding schedule", "a challenging schedule", or "a busy schedule" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a hard schedule" or "a difficult schedule"?

Both phrases are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to emphasize. "Hard" might suggest more effort, while "difficult" might emphasize complexity.