a harder schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a harder schedule" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a timetable or plan that is more demanding or challenging than a previous one. Example: "This semester, I have a harder schedule with more classes and less free time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 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

But improvements may not translate into victories given the harder schedule, shortened off-season (which hurt young players most) and higher expectations.

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

This paper presents a new hybrid simulated annealing algorithm (hybrid SAA) for solving the flow-shop scheduling problem (FSSP); an NP-hard scheduling problem with a strong engineering background.

Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Good teams get harder schedules.

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing academic or professional commitments, use "a harder schedule" to accurately convey an increased workload or complexity.

Common error

Avoid using "a harder schedule" repetitively in close proximity. Vary your language with alternatives like "a more demanding workload" or "a more challenging timetable" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a harder schedule" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "harder" modifies the noun "schedule". It indicates a schedule that is more demanding or challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a harder schedule" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that denotes a more demanding timetable or plan. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and identifies various contexts, primarily in news, science and academic writing. While not exceptionally common, its meaning is clear, and it serves to describe situations involving increased effort or complexity. For variety, consider alternative expressions like "a more challenging timetable" or "a more demanding workload". While perfectly sound, overuse of "a harder schedule" should be avoided, instead relying on the alternatives in order to keep the reader or listener engaged.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a more challenging timetable

Replaces 'harder' with 'more challenging' while maintaining the meaning of a difficult schedule.

a tougher agenda

Substitutes 'schedule' with 'agenda' implying a demanding plan.

a more demanding workload

Shifts focus to the workload aspect of a schedule, highlighting its intensity.

a heavier course load

Specifically refers to academic schedules, emphasizing the quantity of courses.

a more rigorous program

Emphasizes the strictness and intensity of a schedule or program.

an increased commitment

Highlights the higher level of dedication required by a demanding schedule.

a tight schedule

Indicates a schedule with little flexibility or free time.

a packed agenda

Suggests a schedule filled with numerous activities and commitments.

a full plate

An idiomatic expression referring to having many responsibilities and tasks.

a taxing regimen

Implies a schedule that is physically or mentally draining.

FAQs

What does "a harder schedule" mean?

The phrase "a harder schedule" refers to a timetable or plan that is more demanding or challenging than a previous one. It implies an increased workload, complexity, or stricter requirements.

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

You can use alternatives like "a more challenging timetable", "a tougher agenda", or "a more demanding workload" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a harder schedule"?

It is appropriate to use "a harder schedule" when you want to describe a situation where someone has an increased workload, more responsibilities, or a more complex timetable compared to what they had before.

Is "a harder schedule" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a harder schedule" is grammatically correct. The adjective "harder" is correctly modifying the noun "schedule", and the article "a" is used appropriately for a singular, countable noun.