a harsh time

USAGE SUMMARY

"a harsh time" is correct and usable in written English.
It could be used to talk about a difficult period of life, or a period in history in which things were especially challenging. For example: "The Great Famine was a harsh time for people in Ireland."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The design step being a harsh time-consuming task, the strategy to build these custom microarrays is often to select probes from different existing platforms.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Furthermore, the Semi-Implicit Backward Differentiation Formula (SBDF) scheme is applied to solve the kinetic equations without a harsh time-step constraint which has the strongest high-modal decay among the second-order multistep methods [ 41].

BioMed Research International

That said, he allowed that there were remnants of a harsher time.

The New York Times

In a harsher time Pasternak might have found himself banished to Siberia.

The Guardian

Many industry veterans agree, but some also believe that the people who ran papers when profit margins were high may not be the right fit for a harsher time.

The New York Times

Schulman quotes a prosecutor as saying this was considered a harsh sentence at the time.

Huffington Post

Ayer's best work as a writer – Harsh Times, Training Day, End of Watch – kept the audience on side with characters whose moral ambivalence frequently tipped over into gleeful corruption and self-destruction.

The Guardian - Film

With the tiny Caribbean republic in chaos and swept by cholera, musicians Steeve Valcourt and Jonas Attis imagined a group that could be an antidote to harsh times, an act of national regeneration that summoned the varied strands and spirits of Haitian music.

The Guardian - Music

The buoyancy and lyrical bravado of Let's Face the Music and Dance – first heard in 1936 in Follow the Fleet – has a desolate tinge, a shadow from harsh times and war clouds, that Strallen lightly suggests.

The Guardian

Life was harsh, time was precious, and articles of furniture were confined to essentials.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On one hand this results in very harsh time step restrictions for explicit methods due to the CFL criterion.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a harsh time", consider specifying the cause or context of the hardship to provide clarity and impact. For instance, "a harsh time due to economic recession" is more descriptive.

Common error

Avoid using "a harsh time" in contexts where the hardship is minor or easily resolved. This can diminish the phrase's impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a harsh time" functions as a noun phrase, with "harsh" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "time". It typically serves as a subject complement or object in a sentence, describing a period characterized by difficulty or unpleasantness. Based on Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and understandable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a harsh time" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase used to depict a period marked by adversity, suffering, or unpleasantness. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the absence of direct examples in the search data highlights its nuanced usage, which typically involves providing context to specify the nature and cause of the hardship. Although absent, it's important to consider that similar phrases such as "a difficult period" can be used as alternatives to adapt tone and context. Remembering to provide specifics and avoid overdramatization ensures accurate and impactful use of the phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult period

Focuses on the level of difficulty experienced.

a challenging era

Highlights the demanding nature of the time period.

a trying moment

Emphasizes the testing or stressful nature of the experience.

a tough situation

Indicates a problematic or unfavorable set of circumstances.

a bleak period

Highlights the lack of hope or positive aspects.

a grim phase

Focuses on the unpleasant or depressing nature.

a severe ordeal

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty and suffering involved.

a painful chapter

Highlights the emotional distress associated with the period.

a period of adversity

Formally indicates challenging or unfavorable conditions.

a spell of suffering

Focuses on the experience of enduring pain or hardship.

FAQs

How can I use "a harsh time" in a sentence?

You can use "a harsh time" to describe a period marked by difficulty, suffering, or unpleasantness. For example, "The war years were "a harsh time" for many families".

What are some alternatives to "a harsh time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a difficult period", "a challenging era", or "a trying moment", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct: "a harsh time" or "a hard time"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "A harsh time" emphasizes severity or unpleasantness, while "a hard time" suggests difficulty or struggle.

What's the difference between "a harsh time" and "a rough time"?

"A harsh time" often implies severe conditions or suffering, whereas "a rough time" suggests a period of general difficulty or unpleasantness without necessarily implying extreme severity. While both are similar, "a harsh time" conveys greater intensity.