exceptionally hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'exceptionally hard' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is more difficult than usual. For example: "The final exam was exceptionally hard this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"He's training exceptionally hard," Draper says.

The Guardian - Sport

That is exceptionally hard to arrange.

The Economist

"It's an exceptionally hard test," Harrington said.

The New York Times - Sports

The winter of 1947 was exceptionally hard.

The Guardian

Firstly, you must be prepared to work exceptionally hard.

The Guardian

Of course, exceptional success does require exceptionally hard work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Hillary Clinton's influence on this and all issues is exceptionally hard to figure out).

The New York Times

She worked exceptionally hard to get to where she's got to.

The New York Times

The incomplete data showed that nonwhite women have an exceptionally hard time climbing the corporate ladder.

The New York Times

She is being forced to work exceptionally hard for every point.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But back to Finnegan's Wake, Joyce's exceptionally hard-to-read tale of -- something.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exceptionally hard" to emphasize the degree of difficulty or effort involved in a task or situation. It is suitable when you want to convey that something is significantly more challenging than usual.

Common error

Avoid using "exceptionally hard" in very casual conversations. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or dramatic in everyday settings. Consider using simpler alternatives like "really hard" or "very difficult".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceptionally hard" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. It modifies the adjective "hard", increasing the degree of the described quality. Ludwig examples show it describing tasks, conditions, and efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

10%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exceptionally hard" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the difficulty or intensity of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While versatile, it's best to avoid overusing it in very informal settings, where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "extremely difficult" or "particularly challenging" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult

Replaces "exceptionally" with "extremely", maintaining the emphasis on difficulty.

particularly challenging

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "exceptionally" with "particularly", softening the tone slightly.

remarkably tough

Uses "tough" instead of "hard" and "remarkably" instead of "exceptionally", adding a sense of resilience required.

incredibly demanding

Replaces "hard" with "demanding" and "exceptionally" with "incredibly", focusing on the effort required.

unusually arduous

Uses "arduous" instead of "hard" and "unusually" instead of "exceptionally", highlighting the strenuous nature.

extraordinarily taxing

Replaces "hard" with "taxing" and "exceptionally" with "extraordinarily", emphasizing the burden involved.

singularly burdensome

Substitutes "hard" with "burdensome" and "exceptionally" with "singularly", underscoring the weight or load involved.

decidedly onerous

Uses "onerous" instead of "hard" and "decidedly" instead of "exceptionally", highlighting the oppressiveness.

uncommonly laborious

Replaces "hard" with "laborious" and "exceptionally" with "uncommonly", stressing the effort and time required.

seriously difficult

Uses "difficult" instead of "hard" and "seriously" instead of "exceptionally", a more straightforward alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "exceptionally hard" in a sentence?

You can use "exceptionally hard" to describe tasks, situations, or even personal qualities. For example: "The exam was exceptionally hard", or "He worked exceptionally hard to achieve his goals".

What can I say instead of "exceptionally hard"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely difficult", "particularly challenging", or "incredibly demanding" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "exceptionally hard" or "very hard"?

"Exceptionally hard" implies a greater degree of difficulty than "very hard". Use "exceptionally hard" when you want to emphasize that something is significantly more challenging.

Can "exceptionally hard" be used to describe people?

While less common, "exceptionally hard" can describe someone who puts in a great deal of effort. For example, "She is an exceptionally hard worker". A more common alternative might be "extremely diligent".