a rather tough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather tough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or challenging in a somewhat informal or conversational tone. Example: "The exam was a rather tough challenge, but I managed to pass it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It's been thriving in what was once a rather tough business location".

The New York Times

The race takes its character from the uneven terrain and uneven personality of a rather tough city.

The New Yorker

"She comes over, typically, as a rather tough politician," said Kenneth Sherill, a professor of political science at Hunter College.

The New York Times

Among the college crowd, raised on the Sopranos and their parents' Springsteen, New Jersey is a rather tough place.

The New York Times

Crispy squid roll with pineapple and herb salad delivers a rather tough sleeve of fried dough stuffed with squid that lacks the flavor to compete with pineapple.

The New York Times - Food

The New Yorker writer and humorist Robert Benchley took note of the letter and wrote a Comment in this magazine about Hoover's predicament: This puts President Hoover in a rather tough spot.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"It takes a rather tough-minded lady to say 'No' after he says: 'Will you marry me?

The New York Times - Style

But six months ago, on the other side of the world, a rather tougher line was adopted that May might just be studying.

The Guardian

The American government has offered $5 billion in cash and a further $10 billion in loan guarantees (although, since the government has taken powers to get equity stakes in exchange, not all airlines will be keen to fall back on these).This week the European Commission took a rather tougher position than the Americans.

The Economist

He could also have pointed out, if he had wanted to, that he had served as an ordinary seaman on destroyers during the second world war, and that this had given him a rather tougher experience of life on the ocean wave than anything John Prescott later had to endure.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though Forfar have come agonisingly close to causing an upset against Rangers in the past, he points out: 'There is a bigger gap between the two teams now than when we played them before.' Celtic, who face a rather tougher looking Scottish Cup hurdle at Aberdeen tomorrow, are sweating on the fitness of Henrik Larsson, whose training has been curtailed because of a hamstring injury.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a rather tough", consider the audience and context. It's suitable for informal and neutral settings, but may need a more formal equivalent in professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a rather tough" in highly formal or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives such as "significantly challenging" or "considerably demanding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather tough" functions as a pre-modifier of a noun, typically describing the quality or characteristic of something. According to Ludwig, it is deemed grammatically sound and appropriate for use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a rather tough" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, primarily functioning to describe something as moderately difficult or challenging. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for use, though its informal tone makes it less suitable for formal or academic writing. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly informal register. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "significantly challenging" or "remarkably demanding" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fairly challenging

Emphasizes the level of difficulty or demanding nature of something.

a quite difficult

Indicates a notable degree of hardship or complexity.

a considerably arduous

Highlights the effort and strain involved.

a notably stringent

Focuses on strictness and precision.

a remarkably demanding

Stresses high expectations and requirements.

a decidedly rigorous

Emphasizes thoroughness and precision.

a particularly severe

Highlights the seriousness and intensity.

a significantly hard

Directly indicates the level of difficulty encountered.

a substantially difficult

Indicates a considerable degree of difficulty.

a seriously taxing

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "a rather tough" in a sentence?

You can use "a rather tough" to describe situations, tasks, or people that present significant challenges. For example, "The exam was "a rather tough" test of our knowledge."

What are some alternatives to "a rather tough"?

Alternatives include "quite difficult", "fairly challenging", or "considerably arduous", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a rather tough" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a rather tough" is more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "significantly challenging" or "remarkably demanding".

What's the difference between "a rather tough" and "a very tough"?

"A rather tough" suggests a slightly lower degree of difficulty or intensity compared to "a very tough". The choice depends on the specific context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.