absolutely hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely hard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme difficulty of a task or situation. Example: "The exam was absolutely hard, and many students struggled to complete it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In a vacuum, a perfectly rigid disc on an absolutely hard surface would roll forever.

The New York Times - Science

This was something that was absolutely hard to imagine for me, that it was going to happen in my lifetime," she said.

The New York Times

We can adopt an approach that is health-based, that is educational, but be absolutely hard and harsh on the drug dealers and the barons and the big boys".

The Guardian

I mean I think if they don't, they're not seeing what the real responsibilities of our president are". Curry: "It must be hard for you to watch him in this". Bush: "Well it's hard, of course, it's absolutely hard". Here's the complete interview; here's the seminal clip, on Americablog.

The Washington Post

They did work absolutely hard, their new manager was in the stands.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We will be absolutely hard-nosed, Killy said.

The New York Times - Sports

T. X. Hammes, a retired Marine colonel who served in Baghdad in early 2004, said, "Each division was operating so differently, right next to the other — absolutely hard-ass here, and hearts-and-minds here".

The New Yorker

"She is absolutely hard-driving and passionate, but that does not make her unpleasant to work with," said Karen Effrem, a conservative education activist who has worked with her.

The Guardian

"Michael may have humility and may be gentle and charming, but he is absolutely hard-hitting in what he wants to achieve," says Anthony Russell-Roberts, administrative director of the Royal Ballet.

The New York Times - Arts

But it's absolutely harder for the women I represent".

The New York Times

"So I think it's absolutely harder to get things out the door.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely hard" to emphasize the extreme level of difficulty or effort required. It's best suited for situations where you want to convey a strong sense of challenge.

Common error

While "absolutely hard" is acceptable, it can sound less formal than alternatives like "extremely challenging" or "exceptionally difficult". Choose your words carefully depending on your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely hard" functions as an intensifier plus an adjective, modifying and emphasizing the degree of difficulty. It is used to denote something that requires a great deal of effort or is severely challenging, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolutely hard" is a grammatically sound way to express a high degree of difficulty. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is more common in news and media, and less frequent in academic writing. Although acceptable, writers should consider their audience and purpose, opting for more formal alternatives like "extremely difficult" or "incredibly challenging" in certain contexts. Therefore, remember to consider the context and choose the phrase that best suits the situation to convey the appropriate level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult

Replaces "absolutely" with "extremely" to modify the intensity of "difficult".

incredibly challenging

Substitutes both words for synonyms that express the high degree of difficulty.

utterly demanding

Replaces "hard" with "demanding", focusing on the rigorous nature of the task.

exceptionally tough

Uses "exceptionally" to emphasize the high level of difficulty implied by "tough".

thoroughly arduous

Replaces both terms with synonyms that convey a strong sense of difficulty and effort.

completely taxing

Shifts focus to the draining effect of something difficult by using "taxing".

remarkably strenuous

Replaces the original phrase with synonyms highlighting the effort required.

seriously challenging

Highlights the severity of the challenge.

really difficult

A more casual alternative that emphasizes the difficulty.

intensely problematic

Focuses on the troublesome nature of the situation or task.

FAQs

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

You can use "absolutely hard" to emphasize the difficulty or intensity of something, such as "The test was absolutely hard /s/extremely+difficult and most students struggled to finish on time" or "The climb was absolutely hard /s/incredibly+challenging but the view from the top was worth it".

What are some alternatives to "absolutely hard"?

Some alternatives to "absolutely hard" include "extremely difficult", "incredibly challenging", or "utterly demanding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "absolutely hard" grammatically correct?

Yes, "absolutely hard" is grammatically correct. "Absolutely" functions as an intensifier modifying the adjective "hard".

When is it appropriate to use "absolutely hard" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "absolutely hard" when you want to strongly emphasize the difficulty or intensity of something. However, consider the formality of your writing and whether a more sophisticated alternative like "exceptionally tough" might be more suitable.