hard of reading

USAGE SUMMARY

'hard of reading' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
It would be better to say "hard to read" instead. For example: "This text was hard to read due to its small font size."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The very idea seems like a blow to literacy, and, indeed, its skimpy text does appear to be written for the hard of reading.

The New Yorker

Click here to sign up, and in case you are hard of reading, the show features a bunch of amazing Rennie Ellis prints from the 70s and 80s, a special mystery section assembled by Tim Barber of Tiny Vices and formerly of us, and a bunch of new Japanese photography that we deem "tops".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Free from the hard work of reading a gear-shift knob.

Huffington Post

Telling the difference between two lines of similar widths can be the hardest part of reading a bar code.

WikiHow

Do we really need a break from the "hard mental labor" of reading books?

The New York Times - Magazine

You can change this to work with whatever directories you want, permissions you want, etc. Alright that's neat, but kind of hard to read if you have a lot of 777 permissions in this directory.

WikiHow

The map is kind of hard to read and uses data from 2010, so I made a version using the latest 2014 numbers from the U.S. Census.

The Washington Post

Asked Thursday how McConnell responded to her remarks, she said, "It's kind of hard to read him". But Hirono clearly left an impression on the majority leader's top deputy, Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.).

The Washington Post

It's kind of hard to read something when you don't even know it's there.

Huffington Post

He learned the hard way about the usefulness of reading guests' books.

The New York Times

Apple, Amazon, and others have worked hard to simulate the experience of reading a book on a tablet computer, device or smartphone.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of saying someone is "hard of reading", consider describing the specific reading challenge or using the more accurate phrase "has trouble reading".

Common error

Avoid using "hard of reading" to describe a person's reading ability. The phrase is often misused and can sound awkward or incorrect. Opt for clearer alternatives like "struggles with reading" or "has difficulty reading".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard of reading" functions as a descriptive term, attempting to characterize someone's reading ability. However, it's not grammatically standard and therefore its ability to accurately describe is compromised. As Ludwig AI points out, it would be better to say "hard to read".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hard of reading" attempts to describe someone with reading difficulties, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. Its infrequent usage and questionable grammatical standing make it advisable to choose clearer, more accurate alternatives like "has trouble reading" or "struggles with reading". While the phrase does appear in some contexts like news and online wikis, its use should be avoided in formal or professional communication to maintain clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Has trouble reading

Directly states the problem of being unable to read easily.

Difficulty in reading

Emphasizes the struggle or challenge encountered during reading.

Reading difficulties

Focuses on the challenges one faces when reading.

Struggling with reading

Highlights the active effort and difficulty experienced in reading.

Reading impairment

A more formal and clinical term for reduced reading ability.

Weak reading ability

Identifies a low level of proficiency in reading.

Poor reading skills

Highlights the deficiency in reading proficiency.

Reading deficiency

Points out a significant lack in reading competence.

Literacy challenges

Broadens the scope to overall difficulties with reading and writing.

Hard to read

Focuses on the characteristic of a text that makes it challenging to decipher, not on a subject having troubles.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate way to say "hard of reading"?

Better alternatives include "has trouble reading", "struggles with reading", or "has difficulty reading". These phrases are grammatically correct and more widely accepted.

Is it correct to use "hard of reading" to describe someone?

No, it's generally considered incorrect. While "hard of hearing" is a common and accepted phrase, "hard of reading" is not. Using phrases like "struggles with reading" or "has difficulty reading" is more appropriate.

What does it mean if a text is described as "hard to read"?

When a text is "hard to read", it implies that the writing style, font, or complexity makes it difficult for readers to understand or follow. This is different from describing a person as "having trouble reading".

How can I improve my reading skills if I find texts "hard to read"?

Strategies include practicing regularly with simpler texts, improving vocabulary, and seeking assistance from a reading specialist. Breaking down complex texts into smaller sections can also make them easier to understand.