a somewhat hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a somewhat hard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is moderately difficult or challenging. Example: "The exam was a somewhat hard test, requiring a lot of preparation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Even a somewhat hard landing would cut deeply into the company's sales".

Forbes

For example, Ichihomare (Kobayashi et al. 2017), Shinnosuke (Kasaneyama et al. 2017), and Tsuyahime (Asanome et al. 2010) have a somewhat hard surface in the cooked rice and are being accepted as a new type of rice by consumers.

Rice

Unique properties are needed for rice that is processed by large-scale rice cooking systems in factories; these include a somewhat hard surface for the cooked rice, a volume increase after cooking, slower degradation during refrigerated transport, and suitability for blending with other rice cultivars; unfortunately, these properties are not provided by Koshihikari rice.

Rice

The strong speech input to Te neurons provides a somewhat hard reset of theta phase in correspondence of a sentence onset.

eLife

During subsequent weekly training sessions, subjects were gradually allowed to resist the pedal action with more exertion as they progressed from a "fairly light" to a "somewhat hard" intensity level.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

(I should note that he has a somewhat hard-bitten perspective on the way the international court system works, and thinks that the interests of relevant nation-states play a large role in deciding who goes to trial).Anyway, to summarise his answer: it's not impossible.

The Economist

This estrangement gives Keeping Up with the Germans a somewhat harder edge than it might otherwise have had.

The Guardian - Books

"Dollhouse" may be a somewhat harder sell to advertisers, in part because of the Friday night slot.

The New York Times

Ann stumped for Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," a somewhat harder sell, in that Carl, at first listening, called it "awful".

The New Yorker

Our real-life lordly oppressors, installed by prerogative and sustained through back-scratching, are nowadays ceaselessly reviled; surely they ought to have proved a somewhat harder sell.

The Guardian - Film

Having been in the vanguard of soft, lightly constructed feminine clothes, Alber Elbaz has given Lanvin a somewhat harder sci-fi edge with shiny fabrics that look quasi-synthetic.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a somewhat hard", ensure the context is clear and the degree of difficulty or intensity you're conveying is appropriate for your audience. It works well when you want to moderate the description of something that is challenging but not overwhelmingly so.

Common error

Avoid using "a somewhat hard" when the situation warrants a stronger descriptor. If something is significantly challenging, use a more direct term like "difficult" or "challenging" rather than diluting the impact with "a somewhat hard."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a somewhat hard" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate degree of difficulty or intensity. It is used to describe something that presents a challenge, but not an overwhelming one. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a somewhat hard" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe a moderate level of difficulty or intensity. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears in both scientific and news contexts and maintains a neutral register. When writing, ensure the context requires a tempered description of difficulty, and consider alternative phrases like "moderately difficult" or "fairly challenging" for stylistic variation. Avoid overstating the difficulty when a stronger descriptor is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonably hard

Indicates a moderate degree of difficulty, similar to the original phrase but with a slightly different emphasis.

a comparatively hard

Suggests a level of difficulty when compared to something else, adding a relative aspect to the difficulty.

a moderately hard

Emphasizes the moderate aspect of the difficulty, providing a direct synonym for "somewhat".

a fairly hard

Uses "fairly" as a synonym for "somewhat", indicating a similar level of intensity or difficulty.

a relatively hard

Implies that the hardness or difficulty is relative to a specific context or comparison.

a pretty hard

A more informal way of saying "somewhat hard", suitable for casual contexts.

a quite hard

Another synonym indicating a moderate degree, similar in meaning and usage.

a bit hard

A slightly less intense way of saying "somewhat hard", indicating a small degree of difficulty.

a little hard

Similar to "a bit hard", emphasizing a slight or small degree of difficulty.

a rather hard

Indicates a moderate to considerable degree of difficulty, intensity or resistance.

FAQs

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

You can use "a somewhat hard" to describe something that presents a moderate challenge or difficulty. For example, "The exam was "a somewhat hard" test, but I managed to pass."

What are some alternatives to using "a somewhat hard"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "moderately difficult", "fairly challenging", or "reasonably arduous" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "a somewhat hard" more formal or informal?

"A somewhat hard" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal settings might benefit from using alternatives like "moderately challenging".

What's the difference between "a somewhat hard" and "a very hard"?

"A somewhat hard" indicates a moderate level of difficulty, while "a very hard" suggests a significantly higher level of challenge. The choice depends on the degree of intensity you wish to convey.