even more harsh

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "even more harsh" is not correct in standard English; it should be "even harsher." You can use it when comparing the severity of something, but it must be in the correct comparative form.
Example: "The new regulations are even harsher than the previous ones."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The new regime was even more harsh than Mubarak's.

The New York Times - Books

In fact, they're even more harsh on the president than adults.

The New York Times

In many places, life is even more harsh than it was under the old economic order.

The Economist

The implications were even more harsh for those Republicans who block Obama on climate action and dispute the entire body of science behind climate change.

The Guardian

The second run became even more harsh than the first, as one of the turns above the steep pitch developed an slick sheet of ice and sent much of the women's field crashing into a deep, powdery hole.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The program is called "I'm a Petty-Minded Creep" — a shot at Lee Myung-bak — and the title just might become even more harsh once Park Geun-hye takes office.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Women in Afghanistan will be even more vulnerable to harsh tribal customs after American troops withdraw.

The New York Times

The powerlessness of poor defendants is becoming even more evident under harsh sentencing schemes created in the past few decades.

The New York Times

The other provision offers hope for the Afghan women who fear they will be even more vulnerable to harsh customs and the men who impose them after American troops withdraw from Afghanistan.

The New York Times

Maybe Sam would have been even more aware of the harsh realities of the adult world after a season or two learning to sacrifice for his Little League team, taking a fastball in the ribs to get on base.

The New York Times - Sports

Future American Davis Cup prospects looked even more promising after James Blake outclassed Harsh Mankad, 6-3, 6-0, in an abbreviated, inconsequential match.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct comparative form "even harsher" instead of "even more harsh" for grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "even more harsh"; the grammatically correct phrasing is "even harsher". Pay attention to the comparative forms of adjectives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to intensify the adjective "harsh". However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct comparative form is "even harsher".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

15%

HuffPost

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "even more harsh" is a grammatically incorrect comparative form. The correct form is "even harsher". While the phrase appears in various contexts including News & Media, Wiki, and Academia, as Ludwig AI points out, its incorrectness makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Better alternatives include "even more severe" or "even stricter", depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey. Always prioritize using "even harsher" for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even harsher

Corrects the grammatical error by using the comparative form of "harsh".

even more severe

Replaces "harsh" with a synonym that conveys greater intensity.

even more strict

Substitutes "harsh" with a word emphasizing rigidity and enforcement.

even more stringent

Similar to "strict", but implies a greater level of regulation and control.

considerably more severe

Emphasizes the increased degree of intensity or seriousness.

substantially more rigorous

Focuses on the increased difficulty and demanding nature.

far more drastic

Highlights the significant and potentially extreme nature of the measure or situation.

significantly more punitive

Emphasizes the increased intention to punish or penalize.

decidedly more brutal

Uses a stronger word to express extreme cruelty or violence.

appreciably more grim

Underscores the heightened sense of despair or bleakness.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something is more harsh?

The correct way to express something being more harsh is to use the comparative form "even harsher".

Is it grammatically correct to say "even more harsh"?

No, "even more harsh" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "even harsher".

What are some alternatives to saying something is "even more harsh"?

Alternatives include "even more severe", "even stricter", or simply "even harsher".

What is the difference between "even more harsh" and "even harsher"?

"Even more harsh" is grammatically incorrect. "Even harsher" is the correct comparative form of the adjective "harsh".