hard times

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a particular period of difficulty in someone's life. For example, "She persevered through the hard times and eventually achieved her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But hard times happen.

The New York Times

These are hard times.

The New Yorker

Hard times, hard hearts.

Independent

They were hard times.

The Guardian

That's evoking hard times.

The New Yorker

Very hard times.

The New York Times - Books

"Hard times are coming.

The New York Times - Food

Just hard times.

The New York Times

Hard times, eh?

The Guardian - Music

FORGET about hard times.

The New York Times - Food

Hard times for Muppets!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional impact of "hard times" on individuals and communities to create a more empathetic and relatable narrative.

Common error

While "hard times" is versatile, overuse can diminish its impact. Employ more specific terms like "recession", "economic downturn", or "personal hardship" to provide greater clarity and precision in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard times" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition, describing a period marked by adversity or difficulty. Ludwig examples confirm this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard times" is a common and generally neutral phrase used to describe periods of difficulty, often economic or personal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. While versatile, consider using more specific terms for increased precision. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, reflecting its relevance to current events and societal challenges. When writing about "hard times", remember to explore specific examples and consider the emotional impact to create a more impactful and relatable narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough times

This is a very similar phrase, using "tough" as a synonym for "hard" to describe difficult circumstances.

period of hardship

This phrase emphasizes the difficulties and suffering experienced during a specific time.

time of adversity

This alternative highlights the challenging and unfavorable conditions of a particular period.

days of struggle

This evokes a sense of ongoing effort and difficulty over a period.

difficult period

This alternative is a broader term that encompasses various kinds of challenges, not strictly economic ones.

challenging circumstances

This option is a more general phrase referring to difficult or demanding situations.

trials and tribulations

This phrase refers to experiences that test one's endurance, patience, or faith.

economic downturn

This term focuses specifically on the economic aspects of hardship, such as recession or financial crisis.

bad patch

This phrase indicates a temporary period of difficulty or misfortune.

years of famine

This alternative focuses on the hardship caused by lack of food or resources over an extended duration.

FAQs

How can I use "hard times" in a sentence?

You can use "hard times" to describe periods of economic or personal difficulty. For example: "The company faced "hard times" during the recession" or "She overcame "hard times" through perseverance".

What's a more specific term for "hard times"?

Depending on the context, you could use more specific terms like "economic recession", "financial crisis", "period of poverty", or "personal struggle".

Is "hard times" formal or informal?

"Hard times" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal phrase. It's appropriate for most writing contexts, but in very formal or academic writing, more precise language might be preferred.

What are some related phrases to "hard times" that I can use?

Similar phrases include "tough times", "difficult period", "time of adversity", or "period of hardship". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.