distinctly harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distinctly harder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is noticeably more difficult compared to something else. Example: "This math problem is distinctly harder than the previous ones we solved in class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

While Rocket Internet companies seem to land funding like water when things are rosy, raising out of necessity is distinctly harder.

TechCrunch

In many kinds of logical game it turns out to be distinctly harder to answer than the pioneers of these games realised.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Astonished, outraged and distinctly hard done by, she has lost her first battle, the stand against Angelo's hard masculine will, and she profoundly minds the fact.

The Guardian - Books

A distinctly hard-edged Jason Wu surfaced on Friday, opening with an almost bubble-shape coat in black faille blowing over a white silk blouse and tight-fitting boy shorts with stilettos.

The New York Times

Even the great West Indies teams, whose cricket seemed to enact a kind of punitive white-flannelled ballet, were often distinctly hard-nosed, powerfully present not just in county cricket but at Kerry Packer's proto-IPL World Series.

The Guardian - Sport

Rolling Stone magazine describes the band as distinctly hard rock, "far apart from the braying mid-70s metal pack".

Wikipedia

As Andrew Bacevich, author most recently of Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country, makes clear in "Rationalizing Lunacy," O'Hanlon is part of a roiling mass of "policy intellectuals" who have given this country a distinctly hard time.

Huffington Post

Retrospective descriptive review is inevitably limited as compared to prospective studies, but for a rare disease managed by many clinicians, across in-patient and out-patient settings, it remains distinctly hard to be prospective in ones approach.

BMC Gastroenterology

It is the uncanny product of a singular vision, distinctly American and hard to refute.

The New Yorker

Sometimes it's hard to say (because the fancy-loving form she's chosen has a distinctly destabilising effect on "hard facts") and at others all too easy (because the poetry doesn't create a sufficiently dynamic self-contained universe to be persuasive).

The Guardian - Books

As a token of it, one could see very distinctly this season how hard Graham's technique is.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "distinctly harder" to clearly and emphatically convey that one thing is significantly more difficult than another. It adds a sense of noticeable difference.

Common error

Avoid using "distinctly harder" in casual conversation; it is better suited for formal writing or situations where a precise and emphatic expression of difficulty is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distinctly harder" functions as an adverb-adjective construction, where "distinctly" modifies the comparative adjective "harder", intensifying the degree of difficulty. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distinctly harder" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize a noticeable difference in difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not overly common, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Related phrases include "noticeably more difficult" and "significantly tougher". It is best used in formal writing where a clear and emphatic expression is desired, and should be avoided in overly casual conversation. It is important to remember that while this phrase is correct, overuse in informal contexts can be considered an error of register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

noticeably more difficult

Emphasizes the degree of difficulty more explicitly.

significantly tougher

Uses "tougher" to convey a more robust sense of difficulty.

considerably challenging

Focuses on the challenge aspect rather than pure difficulty.

markedly more complex

Highlights the increased complexity as the source of difficulty.

appreciably more strenuous

Suggests a greater effort is required.

patently more arduous

Uses "arduous" to indicate a laborious and challenging task.

visibly more demanding

Focuses on the higher demands placed on the individual.

plainly more taxing

Implies a greater drain on resources or energy.

substantially more rigorous

Emphasizes the strictness and thoroughness required.

decidedly trickier

Suggests an element of deception or cleverness in the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "distinctly harder" in a sentence?

You can use "distinctly harder" to emphasize that something is noticeably more difficult than something else. For example, "The second exam was "distinctly harder" than the first".

What are some alternatives to "distinctly harder"?

Alternatives include "noticeably more difficult", "significantly tougher", or "considerably challenging", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "distinctly harder" grammatically correct?

Yes, "distinctly harder" is grammatically correct. "Distinctly" is an adverb modifying the comparative adjective "harder".

When is it appropriate to use "distinctly harder" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "distinctly harder" in formal writing or when you want to emphasize a significant difference in difficulty. It may sound too formal in casual conversation.