getting harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting harder" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is a present participle phrase used to describe an ongoing action or development. Example: "As the economy continues to struggle, finding a job is getting harder." In this example, "getting harder" describes the ongoing difficulty in finding a job as the economy worsens.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is getting harder.

The Economist

It was getting harder.

The New Yorker

It is getting harder.

Independent

That is getting harder.

The Economist

Detection is also getting harder.

The Economist

But it is getting harder.

The Economist

DISARMAMENT talks are getting harder.

The Economist

But business is getting harder.

The Economist

Their jobs are getting harder.

The New York Times

But it's getting harder".

The Guardian

"Life is getting harder".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "getting harder", consider the specific context. Is it about a task, a relationship, or a global issue? Choose vocabulary that reflects that context for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "getting harder" with overly broad subjects. Instead of saying "Life is getting harder", specify which aspect of life is becoming more challenging (e.g., "Finding affordable housing is getting harder").

Linguistic Context

"Getting harder" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying the subject by describing a state of increasing difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Examples show it applied to diverse subjects, from personal experiences to global issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "getting harder" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to denote an escalating degree of difficulty. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in the news and media to describe an increase in the complexity of a task or situation. While versatile, it's advisable to be specific about the subject to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "becoming more difficult" or "growing increasingly challenging" can be used to add nuance. Remember to consider the context to optimize clarity and impact and always use "getting harder" instead of the grammatically incorrect "getting more hard".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming more difficult

Replaces "getting" with "becoming" and "harder" with "more difficult", emphasizing the increasing difficulty.

growing increasingly challenging

Substitutes "getting" with "growing" and "harder" with "increasingly challenging", highlighting the growing nature of the challenge.

proving to be more arduous

Uses "proving to be" to convey the process and "arduous" to indicate a strenuous level of difficulty.

turning out to be tougher

Employs "turning out to be" to suggest a revelation of difficulty and "tougher" as a more informal substitute.

presenting increased obstacles

Focuses on the obstacles aspect and uses "presenting" to actively show the increase in difficulty.

facing greater adversity

Highlights the adversity faced, using "greater" to showcase the increasing aspect.

encountering heightened resistance

Emphasizes the resistance met, with "heightened" indicating the increased level.

evolving into a greater struggle

Focuses on the evolution of the situation into a "greater struggle".

morphing into a steeper climb

Uses the metaphor of a "steeper climb" to represent the increase in difficulty.

progressively complicating

Highlights the complication aspect, using "progressively" to express the increasing nature.

FAQs

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

You can use "getting harder" to describe an activity or situation that is becoming more challenging over time. For instance, "As I age, running marathons is "getting harder"".

What can I say instead of "getting harder"?

You can use alternatives like "becoming more difficult", "growing increasingly challenging", or "proving to be more arduous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "getting harder" or "getting more hard"?

"Getting harder" is correct. "Harder" is the comparative form of the adjective "hard". "More hard" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "getting harder" and "becoming difficult"?

"Getting harder" implies a gradual increase in difficulty over time. "Becoming difficult" suggests a shift to a state of difficulty. The nuance lies in the gradual vs. a state shift.