are more harsh

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are more harsh" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "are harsher." Example: "The new regulations are harsher than the previous ones."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Across the border in Afghanistan, there are more harsh moments.

The New York Times

Certain bleaches are more harsh than others and will therefore damage your hair more.

WikiHow

When you start winning frequently, make the settings harder, put it on hardened and after that veteran, because the bots are more harsh and skilled than any human player.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Some have been more harsh.

The New York Times

The sentence would have been more harsh had Mr. Gordon pleaded not guilty, Mr. Arnon said.

The New York Times

Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, the senior Republican on the committee, was more harsh in his criticism.

The New York Times

Mr. Schundler, who is challenging Mr. DiFrancesco for the Republican nomination, was more harsh.

The New York Times

Remind them that because people tend to be more harsh online than in person, the sender may not have intended to have inflicted such pain.

The New York Times

The sanctions for individuals were more harsh than most people probably expected, and perhaps lighter in terms of money and draft picks lost.

The New York Times

THERE were more harsh words for Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, this week, as well as more promises of tough action against his regime following his re-election in a sham one-man run-off on June 27th.

The Economist

In fact, historians say sugar's dominant role helps explain why slavery in Brazil was said to be more harsh than in many other New World colonies, including the United States.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatically correct writing, consider replacing "are more harsh" with the more standard form "are harsher" or alternatives like "are more severe".

Common error

Be careful when forming comparative adjectives. While "more" can be used with many adjectives, shorter adjectives like "harsh" typically take the "-er" suffix to form the comparative (e.g. harsher).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are more harsh" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. Ludwig AI points out that the grammatically correct form is "are harsher". Therefore, it attempts to describe a state of being where something exhibits a greater degree of severity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "are more harsh" is understandable, it's not considered grammatically correct. The preferred alternative is "are "are harsher"", as indicated by Ludwig AI. Though it appears in various sources like news and media, its usage is relatively rare. When aiming for grammatically sound writing, especially in formal contexts, prioritize using "are "are harsher"" or semantically similar alternatives, such as "are more severe" or "are more strict".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are stricter

Focuses on the enforcement and adherence to rules or standards with greater rigor.

are more severe

Emphasizes the seriousness and gravity of consequences or conditions.

are more stringent

Highlights the tightness and exactness of regulations or requirements.

are more punitive

Directly relates to punishment and the imposition of penalties.

are more rigorous

Refers to the thoroughness and demanding nature of a process or system.

are tougher

A more general term for increased difficulty or intensity.

are more extreme

Indicates a departure from the norm towards the outer limits of a spectrum.

are crueler

Focuses on the element of causing pain or suffering.

are less forgiving

Emphasizes a lack of leniency or compassion.

are harder

A simpler way of indicating increased difficulty or force.

FAQs

How can I use "are more harsh" correctly?

While "are more harsh" might be understood, it's grammatically preferable to use "are "are harsher"". Alternatively, consider using "are "are more severe"" or "are "are more strict"".

Is it ever appropriate to use the phrase "are more harsh"?

While not standard, the phrase "are more harsh" might appear in informal contexts or when emphasizing a point, although using grammatically correct alternatives such as "are "are harsher"" or "are "are more severe"" is advisable for formal writing.

What's the difference between "are more harsh" and "are harsher"?

"Are harsher" is the grammatically standard comparative form of "harsh", while "are more harsh" uses the "more + adjective" construction. Although understandable, "are "are harsher"" is generally preferred.

Which is a better choice, "are more harsh" or "are more severe"?

Both phrases are grammatically sound, but they convey different nuances. "Are more severe" emphasizes the seriousness or intensity of something, while the construction "are more harsh" is grammatically incorrect. Instead use "are "are harsher"".