hard scrutiny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard scrutiny" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a thorough and intense examination or analysis of something, often in a critical context. Example: "The proposal underwent hard scrutiny from the review board before it was approved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

None of this is to argue against hard scrutiny of Mr. de Blasio's positions on crime fighting.

The New York Times

Or you might think they would all be atheists, because what believer would want to subject his own devotion to rationalism's cold, hard scrutiny?

The New York Times - Magazine

When it comes to races as close as this, they find it hard to believe in the integrity of public officials.America's two-tier system of conducting elections will also come under hard scrutiny.

The Economist

To understand exactly what he means, and why he thinks that his predictions bear up to hard scrutiny, it's necessary to return to the title of the above-mentioned book, and the grand idea on which it's based: "the singularity".

Independent

25 April (Columbia) Books by Boyd Tonkin We Had It So Good by Linda Grant If the coming year proves to be a time of sober reckoning and hard scrutiny of the recent past, then Linda Grant's new novel will help us keep the score.

Independent

The can't-look-away quality of his public persona and his media awareness have frequently pushed much of our national journalism into an unsavory corner where the imperatives of equal time, hard scrutiny and adherence to traditional standards have given way to the business lure of the huge television ratings and internet clicks that Mr. Trump uniquely provides.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

See, here's this really, really rich, really smart, nice young boy who doesn't even UNDERSTAND what the bad pressure and awful-hard scrutiny of living up to stockholder expectations and earnings reports is REALLY LIKE.

Huffington Post

And they find it much harder to work under the heavy scrutiny in Manhattan for higher-paying jobs.

The New York Times

Along with Marx, Dostoevsky and a handful of others, Freud was one of the first thinkers in the Western tradition to put conscience under such hard, honest scrutiny.

The New York Times

Many of the young artists seen at the Studio Museum these days are intensely interested in complications, in giving "black" and "white" hard critical scrutiny, in consigning racial pride, along with all other essentialisms, to the shelf.

The New York Times - Arts

Both say Russian-American relations will also be different, based on hard-boiled scrutiny of national interests, not on personal ties dressed up as grand strategy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard scrutiny" when you want to emphasize the thoroughness and intensity of an examination, especially in situations where critical evaluation is involved.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "hard" to intensify scrutiny. Consider stronger adjectives like "rigorous", "intense", or "thorough" to provide more nuanced descriptions and avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

"Hard scrutiny" functions as a noun phrase where "hard" modifies the noun "scrutiny". It describes the nature of the examination or review being conducted, emphasizing its intensity and thoroughness. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard scrutiny" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a thorough and intense examination or analysis. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is particularly prevalent in news and media contexts, where critical evaluation is often required. While alternatives like "intense examination" or "rigorous assessment" exist, "hard scrutiny" effectively conveys the idea of a detailed and critical review. When writing, be mindful of overusing "hard" as an intensifier and consider stronger adjectives for nuanced descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense examination

Emphasizes the depth and focus of the examination, differing slightly from "scrutiny" which implies a more critical aspect.

rigorous assessment

Highlights the strict and thorough nature of the assessment, providing a more formal tone compared to "scrutiny".

close inspection

Focuses on the detailed and careful nature of the inspection, differing from "scrutiny" which may imply a more critical intent.

thorough investigation

Stresses the comprehensive nature of the investigation, differing from "scrutiny" which can be less formal.

critical analysis

Highlights the evaluative and judgmental aspect of the analysis, differing from "scrutiny" in its explicit focus on critique.

detailed review

Focuses on the comprehensive and minute nature of the review, differing from "scrutiny" which implies a more judgmental perspective.

strict examination

Emphasizes the stringent and uncompromising nature of the examination, conveying a more authoritative tone.

severe assessment

Highlights the harshness and gravity of the assessment, differing from "scrutiny" in its implication of serious consequences.

searching inquiry

Emphasizes the probing and exploratory nature of the inquiry, suggesting a quest for hidden information.

probing investigation

Highlights the intrusive and in-depth nature of the investigation, suggesting a deeper search for underlying issues.

FAQs

What does "hard scrutiny" mean?

"Hard scrutiny" refers to a thorough and intense examination or analysis of something, often implying a critical assessment.

How to use "hard scrutiny" in a sentence?

You can use "hard scrutiny" to describe the level of examination something undergoes, for example: "The proposal faced "hard scrutiny" from the review board."

What can I say instead of "hard scrutiny"?

Alternatives to "hard scrutiny" include "intense examination", "rigorous assessment", or "close inspection", depending on the specific context.

Is "hard scrutiny" the same as "close scrutiny"?

While both phrases imply a detailed examination, "hard scrutiny" suggests a more intense and critical evaluation than "close scrutiny", which may simply refer to careful observation.