even tougher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "even tougher" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations when you want to emphasize that something is more difficult than prior expectations or ideas. For example, "This year's exams were even tougher than last year's."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Informally, he was even tougher.

The New Yorker

Others might find it even tougher.

The New York Times

Tomorrow's stage is even tougher.

The New York Times - Sports

Ben Benson's is even tougher.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But in today's economy, it's even tougher".

The New York Times

Lochte had an even tougher task.

The Guardian - Sport

The Senate could be even tougher.

The New York Times

My constituents are even tougher than myself.

The Guardian

But mile-a-minute is even tougher.

The New York Times

Is this an even tougher time?

The Guardian - Music

The longer-term questions are even tougher.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "even tougher" to directly compare the difficulty of two situations or tasks, emphasizing the increased challenge. For instance, "Negotiating this contract was tough; finalizing the details was "even tougher".

Common error

Avoid using "even tougher" without establishing a clear reference point for comparison. Instead of saying "The situation is "even tougher", provide context: "The situation is "even tougher" than we initially anticipated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even tougher" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, used to indicate that something is more difficult or challenging than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical standing through examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "even tougher" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is more challenging than something else. Ludwig AI confirms that it's widely used across various domains, especially in news and media. When using "even tougher", it's best practice to ensure a clear comparison is established to provide context. Avoid using it without a reference point, and consider alternatives like "more challenging" or "significantly more difficult" to add variety to your writing. Remember, the goal is to emphasize the increased level of difficulty effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly more difficult

Focuses on the degree of difficulty, indicating a marked difference.

substantially harder

Highlights a notable increase in difficulty, stressing the effort required.

considerably more challenging

Emphasizes the significant increase in difficulty, focusing on the challenge aspect.

appreciably more demanding

Emphasizes the increased requirements and expectations.

distinctly more rigorous

Emphasizes the stricter and more demanding nature.

noticeably more arduous

Highlights the increased effort and strain involved.

markedly more complex

Shifts the focus to the increased complexity of the situation.

exceptionally more trying

Highlights the extremely challenging and stressful nature.

measurably more strenuous

Focuses on the increased physical or mental effort required.

far more taxing

Stresses the draining and demanding nature of the task.

FAQs

How can I use "even tougher" in a sentence?

Use "even tougher" to compare the degree of difficulty between two situations or tasks, emphasizing the heightened challenge. For example, "The first exam was difficult, but the second one was "even tougher"".

What are some alternatives to saying "even tougher"?

You can use phrases like "more challenging", "more difficult", or "considerably harder" to convey a similar meaning of increased difficulty.

Is it grammatically correct to use "even tougher"?

Yes, "even tougher" is grammatically correct. It functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating a greater degree of difficulty compared to something else.

When is it appropriate to use "even tougher" in writing?

It’s appropriate to use "even tougher" when you want to emphasize that something is significantly more challenging or difficult than a previous situation or expectation. Ensure there's a clear point of comparison to make the statement meaningful.