hard makes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard makes" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is difficult to create or produce, but it lacks clarity and proper context. Example: "The project is hard makes it challenging to meet the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Making violence hard makes it rare.

The New Yorker

Still, hitting the love theme so hard makes for a bumpy read to children.

The New York Times

"I understand the theory behind the Cornell campaign is they want their seniors to donate, but pushing this hard makes it seem like it's no longer really a donation but more like part of tuition," she said.

The New York Times

But she tries too hard, makes bad decisions and eventually concludes that she is merely "a tired woman going home from work with nothing to look forward to," one of those who have "had a moment when a window opened, when we caught a glimpse of the open, sunlit world beyond," only to see "that window close and remain closed".

The New York Times - Books

This progressive conservative tradition is built on an admiration for a certain sort of individual: the young, ambitious striver, who works hard, makes something of himself, creates opportunities for others and then goes on to advance America's unique mission in the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

They've been banished by an ad hoc coalition of lobbyists loaded with money, loud-mouth talk-show hosts who will flame anyone who crosses them, political consultants who warn that asking Americans to do anything important but hard makes one unelectable and a citizenry that doesn't even ask for optimal anymore because it believes that optimal is impossible.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Poeller, swallowing hard, made no reply.

The New Yorker

It's hard, making friends".

The Guardian

They worked extremely hard, made big plays.

The New York Times - Sports

They are going after them hard, making the investments required".

The New York Times

"It was hard making the adjustment," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "hard makes" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically correct alternatives like "makes it difficult" or "creates a challenge" to ensure clarity.

Common error

Do not directly translate the structure of similar phrases from other languages into English using "hard makes". This often results in awkward phrasing. Always check for proper English syntax using established patterns like "makes it + adjective".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard makes" primarily functions as a causative construction, attempting to express that something being "hard" results in a specific outcome. However, it deviates from standard English grammar and can be ambiguous.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase "hard makes" is not grammatically correct in standard English. While commonly found in news and media sources, and despite its frequent usage, it should be avoided in formal writing in favour of options such as "makes it difficult" or similar constructions. The aim is to convey causation, but clearer and grammatically correct alternatives are readily available to ensure effective communication. As such, carefully consider your phrasing and choose standard English patterns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

makes it difficult

Replaces "hard" with "difficult" for clarity, maintaining the causative structure.

makes it challenging

Similar to "makes it difficult" but uses a slightly more nuanced adjective.

renders difficult

Uses "renders" to show causation of difficulty, offering a more formal tone.

contributes to the difficulty

Highlights the contribution to overall difficulty instead of directly stating it.

complicates the matter

Highlights how something is making a situation more complex or intricate.

exacerbates the challenge

Emphasizes the worsening of an existing challenge.

leads to complications

Focuses on the fact that something is triggering the rise of a situation that makes things more difficult.

poses a challenge

Focuses on the introduction of a new challenge.

is a difficult process

Shifts focus to describe something as inherently difficult, rather than caused by something else.

presents obstacles

Focuses on creating barriers or impediments.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "hard makes"?

Instead of "hard makes", consider using phrases such as "makes it difficult", "creates a challenge", or "presents an obstacle" for clearer communication.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "hard makes", and should I use it?

While you may encounter "hard makes" in informal speech or certain dialects, it's generally advisable to avoid it in formal writing. Opt for more standard English constructions to prevent confusion.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "hard makes" to improve its grammatical correctness?

For instance, instead of saying "The challenge hard makes the project take longer", try "The challenge "makes the project difficult"" or "The challenge "causes the project to take longer"".

What's the difference between "hard makes" and "makes it hard"?

"Hard makes" is not a standard English construction and often sounds awkward. "Makes it hard" is grammatically correct and widely used to indicate that something creates difficulty.