a tough pace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tough pace" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a challenging or demanding speed or rhythm, often in the context of physical activities or work. Example: "The marathon runners maintained a tough pace throughout the race, pushing their limits to achieve personal bests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And while it's been a tough pace, it's never stopped being exhilarating.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"We ran this particular weapon... through some extremely tough paces," said Klunder.

Vice

Maybe this helps explain why television's exasperated, pretend-news anchors are having a tough time keeping pace with real life.

The New Yorker

"It will be a tough ask to keep pace with the Chinese or the Americans, but we have been right there with the Russians and I think most of us are really going to be inspired to beat them in 2012.

The Guardian - Sport

At 5,000m Farah was comfortably set in a large pack going round at a tough but not brutal pace, the leaders going through in 14 mins 39.5secs.

BBC

GameDaily ranked Samus seventh on a list of the top "hottest game babes", describing her as "a refreshing change of pace, a tough, no nonsense warrior that isn't afraid to remove her famous orange and yellow power suit and let her hair down, especially to reveal her skin tight clothing".

Wikipedia

For those of us who love a fast pace and a tough challenge, this place is a calling, not a job".

The New York Times - Magazine

PARIS — One moment Johnny Hoogerland was on his bicycle, racing alongside a group of riders who were setting the pace in a tough stage of the Tour de France.

The New York Times - Sports

But Raikkonen and Alonso, who both admitted coming into this race that they needed to make up ground on Vettel, face a tough battle after struggling for pace all weekend.

BBC

"With 'Potemkin,' pacing is a tough one," Mr. Reynolds said.

The New York Times

A tough, mature, difficult but brilliantly paced novel in which a woman in Nazi Berlin accepts Jews' valuable possessions to safeguard them, then appropriates them and slopes off to Switzerland.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress or competition, use "a tough pace" to emphasize the high level of effort and challenge involved. For example, "The company is maintaining a tough pace in product development to stay ahead of competitors."

Common error

Avoid using "a tough pace" to describe situations where effort isn't the primary factor. For instance, don't say "The economy experienced a tough pace last quarter" if the slowdown was due to external factors rather than internal struggles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tough pace" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the nature of the pace, indicating that it is challenging or demanding. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a tough pace" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a challenging or demanding rate of progress or activity. Ludwig AI analysis reveals its prevalence in news, media, and general contexts. When writing, use "a tough pace" to emphasize effort and challenge, but avoid applying it in situations where exertion isn't a primary factor. Alternatives such as "a demanding tempo" or "a challenging rhythm" can offer nuanced meanings. Always ensure that the situation aligns with the phrase's inherent implication of significant effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a demanding tempo

Replaces "pace" with "tempo", emphasizing the rhythm and speed's demanding nature.

a challenging rhythm

Substitutes "tough" with "challenging", highlighting the difficulty, and replaces "pace" with "rhythm".

a rigorous speed

Uses "rigorous" instead of "tough" to intensify the demanding aspect of speed.

an arduous rate

Replaces "tough" with "arduous", stressing the strenuousness, and "pace" with "rate".

a grueling tempo

Emphasizes the exhausting nature by using "grueling" in place of "tough" and "tempo" for "pace".

a brisk tempo

Conveys a sense of quickness and energy but retains the difficulty.

a rapid stride

Focuses on the swiftness of movement.

a strenuous velocity

Highlights the effort required to maintain the speed.

a testing speed

Uses "testing" to indicate the challenging nature of the speed.

a quick cadence

Focuses on a brisk rhythm or sequence of actions.

FAQs

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

You can use "a tough pace" to describe something happening quickly or intensely. For example, "The team maintained "a tough pace" to meet the deadline."

What does "a tough pace" mean?

"A tough pace" refers to a challenging or demanding speed or rate at which something is done. It implies that the activity requires significant effort or is difficult to sustain.

What are some alternatives to saying "a tough pace"?

Alternatives include "a demanding tempo", "a challenging rhythm", or "a rigorous speed depending on the specific context".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a tough pace"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules, with "tough" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "pace".