an even harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an even harder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the difficulty of two or more things, indicating that one is more difficult than another. Example: "This new project is an even harder challenge than the last one we completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

For healthy women, that would be an even harder sell.

The New York Times - Health

Foreigners have an even harder time of it.

The Economist

"Consumers could have an even harder time navigating through airfares".

The New York Times

German intelligence officials take an even harder line against Iran.

The New York Times

Mr. Titus would have an even harder go of it.

The New York Times - Travel

That will be an even harder case to make.

The New York Times

A narrator saluted the fight for racial freedom and an "even harder" fight for equality.

The New York Times

It is a difficult game to play and an even harder game to master.

The New York Times - Magazine

And he would have an even harder time than did previous police reformers.

The Economist

Obama has passed through the same travail along an even harder road and has been elevated.

The New Yorker

But just 80 miles to the east, the storm was delivering an even harder blow.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an even harder", ensure you've clearly established the initial level of difficulty to provide context for the comparison. For example, "The first level was challenging, but the second level is "an even harder" test of skill."

Common error

Avoid using "an even harder" without first establishing what it's harder than. Without that initial context, the phrase lacks a reference point and becomes less effective.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "an even harder" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun (implied or explicit) to indicate a higher degree of difficulty. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the structure is correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig show it comparing tasks, challenges, and even personal experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an even harder" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a greater degree of difficulty or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its prevalence in news and media highlights its broad applicability. When employing this phrase, ensure there is a clear point of comparison to enhance its impact. While versatile, be mindful of maintaining context and avoiding redundancy. Alternatives such as "a significantly more difficult" or "a substantially tougher" can add nuance depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significantly more difficult

Emphasizes the increased difficulty more explicitly.

a substantially tougher

Replaces 'harder' with 'tougher', adding a slightly different nuance to the challenge.

a considerably more challenging

Uses 'challenging' instead of 'harder', focusing on the test of one's abilities.

an increasingly difficult

Highlights the progressive increase in difficulty.

a far more demanding

Shifts the focus to the level of effort required.

an exceptionally arduous

Emphasizes the strenuous and taxing nature of the task.

a severely taxing

Focuses on the depleting and straining effect of the difficulty.

a much steeper

Uses 'steeper' metaphorically to describe the increased difficulty as an incline.

a truly formidable

Highlights the intimidating and overwhelming nature of the challenge.

a notably rigorous

Emphasizes the strictness and demanding nature of the task or challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "an even harder" in a sentence?

Use "an even harder" to compare the relative difficulty of two tasks or situations. For example, "Negotiating the contract was tough, but getting it approved was "an even harder" challenge."

What phrases can I use instead of "an even harder"?

You can use alternatives like "a significantly more difficult", "a substantially tougher", or "a considerably more challenging" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "even more harder"?

No, "even more harder" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "an even harder" or "even harder". The comparative form 'harder' already implies 'more hard', so adding 'more' is redundant.

What's the difference between "an even harder" and "a harder"?

"An even harder" implies a greater degree of difficulty compared to something already established as difficult. "A harder" simply indicates a comparative level of difficulty without necessarily referencing a prior established challenge. Using "an even harder" suggests the speaker or writer is building upon a previously mentioned difficulty.