getting harder to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting harder to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or task that is becoming increasingly difficult over time. Example: "As the project progresses, it is getting harder to meet the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's getting harder to do, though.

The New York Times

Good entertainment is getting harder to find.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's getting harder to get by".

The New York Times

It's getting harder to shock.

The New York Times - Food

"It's getting harder to breathe," Stan said.

The New Yorker

But Saturn is getting harder to find.

The New York Times

Production money is getting harder to find.

The New York Times

Now it's getting harder to stand out.

The Guardian - Tech

Peace is getting harder to define.

The New Yorker

Seats are getting harder to come by".

The New York Times

Audiences are also getting harder to please.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "getting harder to" to describe a gradual increase in difficulty over time. For example, "As technology advances, it's getting harder to stay informed about all the latest developments."

Common error

Avoid overusing phrases with "getting", as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure with alternatives like "becoming more challenging to" or "increasingly difficult to" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "getting harder to" functions as a descriptor of a progressive action, indicating that a particular task or situation is becoming more difficult over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "getting harder to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something that is becoming progressively more difficult. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable phrase. Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase serves to communicate increasing challenges across various contexts. When aiming for variety in your writing, consider alternatives like "becoming more challenging to" or "increasingly difficult to". By understanding its proper usage and potential pitfalls, you can effectively incorporate "getting harder to" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming more challenging to

Replaces "getting" with "becoming" and "harder" with "more challenging" for a slightly more formal tone.

increasingly difficult to

Substitutes "getting harder" with "increasingly difficult", emphasizing the growing degree of difficulty.

growing increasingly tough to

Employs "tough" as a synonym for "hard", adding a sense of resilience needed to overcome the difficulty.

proving more troublesome to

Uses "proving more troublesome" instead of "getting harder", highlighting the problematic aspect.

becoming a greater struggle to

Highlights the effort required, using "struggle" to convey the difficulty.

progressively more complicated to

Replaces "harder" with "more complicated", suggesting an increase in complexity.

presenting more obstacles to

Focuses on the obstacles that make something difficult, rather than the difficulty itself.

posing a greater difficulty for

Shifts the focus to the difficulty being posed, rather than the act of getting harder.

turning into a challenge to

Rephrases the difficulty as a developing challenge, implying a call to action.

it is escalating in difficulty to

Uses a more formal tone to describe the gradual increase in difficulty.

FAQs

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

Use "getting harder to" to describe a task or situation that is becoming progressively more difficult. For example, "It's getting harder to find affordable housing in the city."

What can I say instead of "getting harder to"?

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

Is it grammatically correct to use "getting harder to"?

Yes, "getting harder to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe a gradual increase in difficulty.

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

"Getting harder to" implies a process or trend of increasing difficulty over time, while "more difficult to" simply states that something is difficult. The nuance lies in the progressive aspect of "getting harder to".