hard to accept

USAGE SUMMARY

"hard to accept" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you want to express difficulty in accepting something. For example: "The news of my son's death was hard to accept."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's hard to accept.

The New York Times - Books

"It's very hard to accept".

The New Yorker

That's hard to accept.

The New Yorker

The diagnosis was hard to accept.

The New York Times

I find that hard to accept.

The New York Times - Books

And that is hard to accept.

The New York Times

Progress can be hard to accept.

The New York Times

"That's really hard to accept," she said.

The New York Times

Many survivors find this hard to accept.

Harvard University

"It's hard to accept," he said.

The Washington Post

"It's hard to accept," Mrs. Williamson said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to accept", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the difficulty in acceptance. Be specific about the reasons behind the difficulty to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to accept" when a stronger term like "unforgivable" or "intolerable" is more appropriate. "Hard to accept" implies difficulty, not necessarily impossibility, of acceptance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to accept" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing something that presents difficulty in being accepted or believed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to accept" is a common and grammatically sound way to express difficulty in accepting something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media, it conveys disbelief or resistance across a range of situations. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity and to select it carefully to match the intended emotional intensity. Alternatives like "difficult to accept" or "tough to accept" offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for more precise communication. Understanding these nuances helps writers leverage "hard to accept" effectively and avoid potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to accept

Replaces "hard" with its direct synonym "difficult", maintaining the original meaning.

tough to accept

Substitutes "hard" with "tough", suggesting a more resilient difficulty in accepting something.

not easy to accept

Adds a more descriptive tone, emphasizing the lack of ease in accepting something.

challenging to accept

Emphasizes the difficulty as a challenge, shifting the focus slightly.

hard to countenance

Replaces "accept" with "countenance", which means to approve or tolerate. It implies a stronger disapproval.

onerous to accept

Replaces hard with 'onerous', implying something is difficult and burdensome to accept.

hard to believe

Focuses on the credibility of something rather than the acceptance of it.

hard to swallow

Uses a more figurative expression, implying something unpleasant that one must accept.

difficult to stomach

Similar to "hard to swallow", but may imply a stronger aversion.

unacceptable

Expresses a complete rejection, without necessarily implying a struggle to accept.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to accept" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to accept" to describe a situation, fact, or idea that is difficult to come to terms with. For example, "It was "hard to accept" that the project had failed after so much effort".

What are some alternatives to saying "hard to accept"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "difficult to accept", "tough to accept", or "challenging to accept" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hard to accept"?

Yes, "hard to accept" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adjective phrase describing something that is difficult to accept or believe.

What's the difference between "hard to accept" and "hard to believe"?

"Hard to accept" implies difficulty in coming to terms with something, whereas "hard to believe" suggests difficulty in finding something credible or true. The former focuses on emotional acceptance, and the latter on factual believability.