hard done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard done" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that someone has been treated unfairly or unjustly. Example: "She felt hard done by after being passed over for the promotion despite her hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Barak feels grievously hard done by.

The Economist

Wakefield can feel hard done by.

The Guardian - Sport

I felt a bit hard done by.

The Guardian - Sport

But we're not hard done to.

The Guardian - Music

Bum: posh, hard done by and critical.

The Guardian - Books

All the same, the schools feel hard done by.

The Economist

They could rightly feel hard done by in defeat.

Independent

Of course he thinks he's been hard done by.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

You never come away feeling hard done by".

The Guardian

You'd feel pretty hard done by, wouldn't you?

The Guardian

"We felt very hard done by," said Martínez.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard done by", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what caused the unfair treatment. For example, "He felt "hard done by" the referee's decision."

Common error

Avoid using "hard done by" as an active construction. It's generally used in a passive sense to describe someone receiving unfair treatment, not inflicting it. So, instead of saying "The company hard did employees by reducing their benefits", say "The employees felt "hard done by" the company's decision to reduce their benefits."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard done by" functions as a subject complement, describing a state of feeling or being treated unfairly. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples show its use to express a sense of injustice or disadvantage experienced by an individual or group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

25%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard done by" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express feelings of unfairness or unjust treatment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a subject complement, typically found in news, sport, and opinion pieces. While its register is generally neutral, it leans towards informal usage. If you're looking for alternative ways to express this sentiment, consider options like "treated unfairly" or "wronged". Remember to use it in a passive sense to describe the recipient of the unfair treatment. The phrase is very common in authoritative sources like The Guardian, BBC, and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

treated unfairly

This alternative directly states the act of being treated without fairness.

wronged

A single word conveying the experience of having been unjustly treated.

shortchanged

Implies receiving less than what is deserved or expected.

aggrieved

Suggests a feeling of resentment at having been unfairly treated.

at a disadvantage

Focuses on the resulting state of being in an unfavorable position.

given a raw deal

An idiomatic expression indicating unfair treatment or an unfavorable outcome.

taken advantage of

Emphasizes the exploitation aspect of unfair treatment.

dealt with unjustly

Highlights the lack of justice in the way someone has been treated.

slighted

Suggests a feeling of being insulted or treated with disrespect.

badly treated

A more general term emphasizing negative or poor treatment.

FAQs

How can I use "hard done by" in a sentence?

The phrase "hard done by" is typically used to express that someone has been treated unfairly. For example, you might say, "She felt "hard done by" after being passed over for the promotion."

What's a synonym for "hard done by"?

Alternatives to "hard done by" include "treated unfairly", "wronged", or "shortchanged" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hard done by" formal or informal?

"Hard done by" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in British English.

Is it correct to say "hard done to" instead of "hard done by"?

The correct and idiomatic expression is "hard done by". While "hard done to" might be understood, it is not standard usage. Stick to "hard done by" to maintain grammatical correctness.