a hard set

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hard set" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a collection of items or a group that is difficult or challenging in some way. Example: "The exam consisted of a hard set of questions that tested our knowledge thoroughly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"They have a hard set of choices that they have to negotiate".

The New York Times

They have lost their youthful self-deprecation: Delpy has developed a hard set to her mouth and a prickly temper; Hawke speaks in a leathery, low-octave voice and throws himself into clowning and satire and sudden rages.

The New Yorker

Of course, getting a PhD is often very restricting in a practical sense — few job opportunities, committing yourself to a lifelong form of hyperspecialized job training — but it's still a hard set of notions to shake.

The New Yorker

Available from swimovate.com, £160 "It's quite a big watch (above), bigger than the ones I'm used to, so I might just leave it by the pool and check my heart rate once in a while, rather than having to swim with a massive watch during a hard set.

The Guardian - Sport

The overall vision for Athos is to show you how to better balance bike pedaling, breathe better through meditation, push through a hard set of weights, bend into the perfect yoga posture or push the body for maximum efficiency.

TechCrunch

But they're also supposed to make sure that injustices don't occur and to only prosecute and convict people if they are guilty, and that's a hard set of competing obligations to balance.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In her loopy moments, Bridgette seems to have something in common with the magnetically weird pixies played by Parker Posey, but there's a harder set to her jaw, reflecting a survivor's pugnacity.

The New Yorker

One British officer, presumed to be Collier, said "The damned rebels at Machias were a harder set than those at Bunker Hill".

Wikipedia

He notes though that looking 10 years into the future is really anyone's guess given the global economic environment, which is why he sees Caterpillar's Vision 2020 as more of a multi-year strategy implementation for the company, rather than a hard-set track for what the company will be making years from now.

Forbes

Cells were then washed and mounted onto microscope slides using a hard-set mounting medium (Vectashield, Molecular Probes, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California, USA).

Breast Cancer Research

Slices were mounted with a Vectashield Hard Set Mounting Medium containing DAPI Vector Laboratories , Inc, Burlingame, CA).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a hard set" to describe a task or challenge, ensure the context clearly indicates what makes it difficult. Provide specific details to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid limiting the interpretation of "hard" to physical difficulty alone. The phrase "a hard set" can also apply to intellectual, emotional, or strategic challenges. Broaden its application to reflect various types of demanding scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hard set" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically modifying another noun to describe a collection or group characterized by difficulty or challenge. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and understandable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hard set" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something challenging or demanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers various real-world examples across domains like News & Media, Science, and Wiki. Related phrases like "a difficult group" or "a challenging collection" can provide alternative expressions depending on the specific context. Remember to use the phrase thoughtfully to clearly convey the intended level and nature of difficulty, whether physical, mental, or strategic. It's also important to note that while the phrase is common, overuse can lead to monotony, so vary your vocabulary accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult group

Focuses on the challenging nature of the group itself rather than the task or collection.

a challenging collection

Emphasizes the demanding aspect of the items gathered together.

a tough series

Highlights the rigor and demanding nature of a sequence or progression.

a rigorous selection

Stresses the strict and demanding criteria applied in a choosing process.

a stringent arrangement

Highlights the strict or precise nature of a plan or setup.

a complex assortment

Emphasizes the intricate and often difficult nature of a mixed collection.

a demanding regime

Focuses on a particularly rigorous or taxing system or routine.

a testing batch

Highlights the aspect of putting something through a difficult trial or examination.

a burdensome array

Stresses the heavy or onerous nature of a display or arrangement.

a trying compilation

Emphasizes the difficult or annoying nature of bringing items together.

FAQs

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

You can use "a hard set" to describe a challenging task, a difficult group of people, or a demanding collection of items. For example, "The test included "a hard set" of problems that required advanced skills".

What are some alternatives to "a hard set"?

Alternatives include "a difficult group", "a challenging collection", or "a tough series", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a hard set of rules"?

Yes, "a hard set of rules" is grammatically correct. It means a set of rules that are strict, inflexible, or difficult to adhere to. However, alternatives such as "strict rules" or "inflexible guidelines" might be more precise.

What's the difference between "a hard set" and "a difficult set"?

While similar, "a hard set" often implies a more demanding or challenging nature than "a difficult set". "Hard" can suggest both difficulty and rigor, whereas "difficult" primarily indicates that something is not easy.