an arduous day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an arduous day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a day that was very difficult, demanding, or tiring, often due to hard work or challenging circumstances. Example: "After an arduous day of hiking, we finally reached the summit just before sunset."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That was just the beginning of an arduous day that included running sand dunes, navigating obstacle courses and crawling on the ground while carrying a teammate.

The New York Times - Sports

Furious at getting no hot food at the end of an arduous day's filming, the presenter notoriously punched Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, giving him a split lip.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the evenings, after an arduous day of mulching and weeding, she doesn't always have the energy to cook dinner for five.

Huffington Post

The most important jar in your office fridge isn't the Nutella you reach for after an arduous day of spreadsheets, or the industrial-sized salsa that shows up at every last-minute staff birthday party you throw together.

Huffington Post

Even the President himself, after an arduous day of official duties, ended up at Outrigger's Vakavanua Lounge where he drank red wine, sang karaoke and announced to his fellow Money for Nothing-blaring singers that if the elections don't swing his way in 2014, maybe he'd start a band and take his act on the road.

Huffington Post

Recuperating on a ridge after an arduous day, he observes that "my legs preserved a ghost sense of stride, a muscle memory of repeated action, and twitched forwards even as I rested".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He kept the job in a physically arduous day laborer position after he came back from sold out South Africa concerts.

Huffington Post

Another thing that really amazed me, was the way all of the other extras behaved during a very long and arduous day.

Huffington Post

Finally, after a fulfilling but very long and arduous day of work, and perhaps for some, a foray into getting the kids fed and bathed and to bed, you finally have time for yourself, to unwind, and then eventually, grab some slumber.

HuffPost

The Shop Hours League campaigned for longer breaks in the shopgirls' grindingly arduous day – and secured a full hour for lunch.

The Guardian - Books

Fuelled by working arduous day jobs before evening studio visits, their tracks became sonically crueller: melody trapped between bludgeoning 4/4 and bracing mid-sections stippled with silence.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an arduous day" when you want to convey a sense of significant effort and perseverance. It implies that the subject overcame considerable obstacles or challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "an arduous day" to describe situations that are merely inconvenient or slightly tiring. Reserve it for truly challenging or exceptionally demanding experiences to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an arduous day" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "arduous" modifies the noun "day". This phrase typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, describing the nature of the day. As per Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an arduous day" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a day filled with significant difficulty and effort. While not as common as simpler alternatives like "a difficult day", it effectively conveys a sense of strain and perseverance. Primarily found in news and media contexts, the phrase is suitable for neutral and slightly formal registers. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is well-regarded and consistently used across various reputable sources, emphasizing its validity in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a trying day

Replaces "arduous" with "trying", suggesting a day that tests one's patience or endurance.

a difficult day

Replaces "arduous" with "difficult", indicating a day filled with challenges and obstacles.

a grueling day

Replaces "arduous" with "grueling", emphasizing the exhausting and demanding nature of the day.

a taxing day

Replaces "arduous" with "taxing", highlighting the draining effect of the day's activities.

a strenuous day

Replaces "arduous" with "strenuous", focusing on the physical or mental effort required during the day.

a demanding day

Replaces "arduous" with "demanding", emphasizing the high expectations or requirements of the day.

a laborious day

Replaces "arduous" with "laborious", emphasizing the amount of work involved.

a toilsome day

Replaces "arduous" with "toilsome", highlighting the wearisome and exhausting nature of the day's work.

a challenging day

Replaces "arduous" with "challenging", suggesting a day that presents significant tests and opportunities for growth.

an exhausting day

Replaces "arduous" with "exhausting", directly stating the day's tiring effect.

FAQs

What does "an arduous day" mean?

The phrase "an arduous day" describes a day characterized by significant difficulty, effort, and strain. It suggests a day filled with challenges that require considerable perseverance.

What can I say instead of "an arduous day"?

You can use alternatives like "a trying day", "a difficult day", or "a challenging day" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "an arduous day" in formal writing?

Yes, "an arduous day" is appropriate for formal writing. While it effectively conveys difficulty and effort, ensure the tone aligns with the specific writing style and context.

How does "an arduous day" differ from "a busy day"?

"An arduous day" implies significant difficulty and strain, whereas "a busy day" simply suggests a day filled with many activities. The former emphasizes the challenging nature of the activities, while the latter focuses on the quantity of activities. Therefore, "an arduous day" is more about the intensity of the work, whereas "a busy day" is more about the amount of work.