actually tougher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "actually tougher" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is more difficult than it may seem or than previously thought. Example: "I thought the exam would be easy, but it was actually tougher than I expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This is actually tougher and braver than being cavalier.

The Guardian

In statistical terms, it is actually tougher to reach No. 1 than to win a Grand Slam singles title.

The New York Times - Sports

No such prohibition exists for drugs to treat humans, making the restrictions on animal compounding actually tougher than those for people.

The New York Times - Health

"The funny thing is that our extension over here for a year is actually tougher on morale than enemy contact," Lieutenant Horner said.

The New York Times

What was smothering them was something called "gel" polish, which is supposedly a kind of lacquer, but I think it is actually tougher and far more enduring than that.

The New York Times

There was puzzlement, too, because some of the legislation Britain plans to unilaterally impose on its financial sector – the recommendations of the Vickers commission on banking, for example – is actually tougher than anything being mooted at EU level.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When it starts to become a job, it's actually really tough.

The Guardian - Sport

"Making that phone call to Coach Doherty was actually really tough, telling him I wasn't going to come," Padgett said.

The New York Times - Sports

As Fowler told LiveScience, "It's actually really tough to show that two animals were belligerents in life".

Huffington Post

"What's actually really tough to watch now all the time is 'Dora.' That song is just brutal," he said.

Huffington Post

It makes her sound sweet, whereas she is actually tough and wise.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "actually tougher" to express a contrast between an initial expectation of ease and the reality of greater difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "actually tougher" simply as a filler phrase. Ensure it genuinely adds emphasis or contrast, rather than just padding the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "actually tougher" functions as an intensified comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by expressing a higher degree of difficulty than some other reference point, while "actually" serves to emphasize the unexpected or surprising nature of this difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

4%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "actually tougher" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for emphasizing unexpected difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its function as an intensified comparative adjective phrase. While not exceptionally common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. To improve your writing, remember to use this phrase to underscore a contrast between expectation and reality, and be mindful of overusing "actually" as a mere filler. Consider alternatives such as "surprisingly challenging" or "unexpectedly difficult" for nuanced expression. While the register is generally neutral, consider your audience when choosing to emphasize with “actually.”

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tougher in reality

Contrasts the perceived difficulty with the actual experience.

surprisingly challenging

Emphasizes the element of surprise in the level of difficulty.

unexpectedly difficult

Highlights the unforeseen nature of the difficulty.

deceptively challenging

Indicates that the challenge is hidden or not immediately obvious.

more demanding than anticipated

Focuses on the higher-than-expected level of effort required.

more rigorous than anticipated

Highlights the higher-than-expected level of rigor or strictness.

more arduous than one might think

Highlights unexpected effort with the use of 'arduous'.

harder than it seems

Suggests that the difficulty is not immediately apparent.

prove more difficult

Indicates a future realization of increased difficulty.

more intense than expected

Emphasizes a higher degree of intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "actually tougher" in a sentence?

You can use "actually tougher" to emphasize that something is more challenging than initially perceived. For example, "The second level of the game was "actually tougher" than the first."

What is a synonym for "actually tougher"?

Alternatives to "actually tougher" include phrases like "surprisingly challenging", "unexpectedly difficult", or "more demanding than anticipated".

Is it grammatically correct to say "actually tougher"?

Yes, "actually tougher" is grammatically correct. "Actually" modifies the comparative adjective "tougher", adding emphasis to the degree of difficulty.

When is it appropriate to use "actually tougher" instead of "tougher"?

Use "actually tougher" when you want to highlight a contrast between an expectation of lesser difficulty and the reality of greater difficulty. Simply using "tougher" is suitable when no such contrast needs emphasis.