a hard time keeping

USAGE SUMMARY

"a hard time keeping" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to finding it difficult to keep doing something. For example: "I've been having a hard time keeping up with the workload this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scientists have had a hard time keeping tabs on WNS partly because it's hard to keep tabs on bats.

Huffington Post

But showbiz keeps a cruel schedule, and sometimes the soul has a hard time keeping up with the body.

The New York Times

Kasparov was having a hard time keeping his concentration.

The New Yorker

Stores have had a hard time keeping up with demand.

The New York Times - Arts

Don, likewise, had a hard time keeping fish on.

The New York Times - Travel

I have a hard time keeping up with her".

The New York Times

We had a hard time keeping track of just the five that we chose.

University of California, Berkeley

I also wondered whether Kansas State would have a hard time keeping pace with Miami's athleticism.

The New York Times

Visuals are going to have a hard time keeping up with this music.

The New York Times - Arts

The women in some of those '70s movies had a hard time keeping their clothes on.

The New York Times

"He had a hard time keeping up," Rosario said of Orb.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a hard time keeping", ensure the context clearly indicates what is difficult to maintain, control, or remember. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a hard time keeping" without specifying what is being kept. For example, instead of saying "They are having a hard time keeping", specify "They are having a hard time keeping the project on schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hard time keeping" functions as part of a larger verb phrase, typically expressing difficulty or struggle in maintaining a certain state, action, or object. Ludwig examples confirm its role in conveying challenges. It is often followed by a gerund.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hard time keeping" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express difficulty in maintaining or retaining something. As confirmed by Ludwig, its applications span various contexts, especially news and academic writing. When using this phrase, be sure to specify what is hard to keep in order to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "difficulty maintaining" or "struggle to retain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness, making it a reliable choice for expressing challenges in written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficulty maintaining

Focuses on the challenge of maintaining something, omitting the temporal aspect implied by "keeping".

struggle to retain

Emphasizes the effort required to retain something, implying a possible loss if effort is not exerted.

difficulty retaining

Highlights the challenge of retaining something specifically.

finding it difficult to maintain

More verbose, explicitly stating the difficulty in maintaining something.

challenged in retaining

Uses a more formal tone, suggesting a significant obstacle in retaining something.

having trouble preserving

Emphasizes the act of preserving something from decay or loss, slightly different in connotation.

facing difficulties holding on to

Suggests a struggle to physically or metaphorically hold onto something.

encountering problems sustaining

Highlights problems in sustaining something over a period of time.

finding it tough to preserve

Uses "tough" instead of "hard", indicating a demanding but perhaps manageable challenge.

experiencing challenges maintaining

More formal and verbose, emphasizing the experience of facing challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "a hard time keeping" in a sentence?

You can use "a hard time keeping" to describe difficulty in maintaining, retaining, or managing something. For example, "I'm having "a hard time keeping" up with my studies this semester".

What are some alternatives to "a hard time keeping"?

Some alternatives include "difficulty maintaining", "struggle to retain", or "finding it difficult to maintain". Each alternative slightly changes the nuance but conveys a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "a hard time keeping up" or "a difficult time keeping up"?

Both "a hard time keeping up" and "a difficult time keeping up" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference.

What's the difference between "a hard time keeping" and "a hard time starting"?

"A hard time keeping" implies difficulty in maintaining something already in progress, while "a hard time starting" implies difficulty in initiating something new. They describe different phases of an action or process.