becomes increasingly hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "becomes increasingly hard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is becoming more difficult over time. Example: "As the project progressed, it becomes increasingly hard to meet the deadlines set by management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

When all players possess the same information identical catalogues of genes, identical protein structures and identical software winning the game becomes increasingly hard.

The Economist

A shape-shifting movie that becomes increasingly hard to categorize and contain, "You All Are Captains" has been described as a documentary-fiction hybrid.

The New York Times

As Osborne prepares to announce more sweeping spending cuts this autumn, it becomes increasingly hard for him to claim equality of sacrifice.

The Guardian - Opinion

And New York screens are rife with their work, while the best of the recent French cinema becomes increasingly hard to find.

The New Yorker

This is a choice - presumably the composer's as much as the librettist's - that becomes increasingly hard to fathom (as in 'five fathoms deep' rather than 'full fathom five').

The Guardian - Music

But as you have to blast away at yet another monster-spawning machine spitting out yet another horde of headless bugs, it becomes increasingly hard to stay interested.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

For most artists, NRA Country is seen as yet another corporate sponsorship opportunity, a way to reach potential new fans among the NRA's many millions of members as it becomes increasingly harder to sell new records in the 21st century.

The Guardian - Music

As oil becomes increasingly harder to extract, energy companies are scrambling to secure rights to natural gas assets.

Forbes

So yes, it becomes increasingly harder for him.

Huffington Post

In our interconnected and always connected world, it becomes increasingly harder to distinguish yourself and your brand.

Huffington Post

But more recently results have become increasingly hard to explain.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becomes increasingly hard" to describe a gradual escalation in difficulty, often due to evolving circumstances or added complexities. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is becoming harder and why.

Common error

While "becomes increasingly hard" is valid, overuse can make writing monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms like "grows more challenging" or "presents escalating difficulties" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becomes increasingly hard" functions as a predicate in a sentence, describing a gradual change in the level of difficulty. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, indicating the increasing challenge associated with an action or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "becomes increasingly hard" is a common expression used to describe a situation or task that is gradually growing more difficult. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness. Found mainly in News & Media and Science, it conveys a sense of escalating challenge. Alternatives include "grows more challenging" or "presents escalating difficulties". While versatile, varying your language can prevent monotony. Use "becomes increasingly hard" when you want to emphasize that something is not just hard but is progressively becoming more so.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes progressively difficult

Replaces "hard" with "difficult" and "increasingly" with "progressively", emphasizing gradual difficulty.

grows more challenging

Uses "challenging" instead of "hard", suggesting a stimulating difficulty that requires effort and skill.

becomes tougher over time

Replaces "increasingly hard" with a more colloquial expression, "tougher over time", indicating a gradual increase in difficulty.

presents escalating challenges

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "becomes increasingly hard" with a phrase highlighting a growing series of obstacles.

is getting more complicated

Emphasizes complexity as the reason for increasing difficulty.

becomes ever more arduous

Replaces "hard" with "arduous", suggesting a task that is laborious and difficult.

is proving more troublesome

Uses "troublesome" to indicate that something is causing problems or difficulties, diverging slightly from the straightforward difficulty.

becomes severely demanding

Highlights the high demands or requirements that are intensifying.

faces mounting obstacles

Shifts the focus to external barriers or impediments that are accumulating.

descends into deepening hardship

This phrase is stronger, suggesting a decline into conditions that are not just difficult but also fraught with adversity and suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "becomes increasingly hard" in a sentence?

This phrase typically describes a situation or task that is gradually becoming more difficult. For instance, "As the project progressed, it "becomes increasingly hard" to meet the deadlines."

What are some alternatives to saying "becomes increasingly hard"?

You can use alternatives like "grows more challenging", "becomes progressively difficult", or "presents escalating challenges" depending on the context to add variety to your writing.

Is it correct to say "becomes more and more hard" instead of "becomes increasingly hard"?

While "becomes more and more hard" is understandable, ""becomes increasingly hard"" is more concise and grammatically standard.

What's the difference between "becomes increasingly hard" and "is increasingly difficult"?

"Becomes increasingly hard" and "is increasingly difficult" are largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific nuance you want to convey. The structure of "is increasingly difficult" might be better where you wish to emphasize the inherent quality of the task, while "becomes increasingly hard" highlights that the process evolves.