hard to achieve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'hard to achieve' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has to be worked for and that is difficult to obtain or accomplish. For example: "Success in this field is hard to achieve, so I'm proud of my accomplishments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Comity is hard to achieve.

The New York Times

Passive ownership is hard to achieve.

The New York Times

But that is hard to achieve.

The Economist

It's hard to achieve that.

The New York Times - Sports

And that's something that's hard to achieve.

The Guardian

Why was that so hard to achieve?

The New York Times - Magazine

It's possible, but hard to achieve.

The New York Times

Apparent simplicity is hard to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

A happy medium is hard to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

Economies of scale are hard to achieve.

The Guardian

But savings from waste tend to be hard to achieve.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to achieve" when you want to emphasize the difficulty and effort required to reach a specific goal. For instance, "Maintaining work-life balance is often "hard to achieve" in demanding professions."

Common error

Avoid using "hard to achieve" for tasks that are generally considered straightforward. Saying "It's "hard to achieve" brushing your teeth" might sound unnatural. Opt for simpler phrasing when describing everyday activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to achieve" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing the difficulty associated with reaching a particular goal or outcome. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its common use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to achieve" is a versatile phrase used to describe goals or outcomes that require substantial effort and persistence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across varied contexts, from formal business to news media. While synonyms such as "difficult to attain" or "challenging to accomplish" can add nuance, avoid overusing the phrase in simplistic situations. Remember, using "hard to achieve" accurately can add depth to your writing by highlighting the effort required to succeed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to attain

This alternative replaces "achieve" with "attain", emphasizing the effort required to reach a goal.

challenging to accomplish

Replaces "hard" with "challenging" and "achieve" with "accomplish", highlighting the demanding nature of the task.

not easily realized

Emphasizes the difficulty in making something real or concrete.

requires significant effort

Focuses on the amount of work needed.

demands considerable work

Highlights that significant labor is a must to get something done.

presents a tough challenge

Highlights the difficulty of the challenge involved.

is an uphill battle

Uses a metaphor to describe the struggle and difficulty in achieving something.

proves to be a struggle

Highlights the element of difficulty.

is fraught with difficulty

Emphasizes the presence of many problems and challenges.

takes considerable doing

Highlights that special action is required.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to achieve" to describe goals or outcomes that require significant effort and persistence. For example: "Consensus on this issue is proving "hard to achieve"", or "Sustainable development is "hard to achieve" without international cooperation".

What are some alternatives to "hard to achieve"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to attain", "challenging to accomplish", or "not easily realized" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "hardly to achieve" instead of "hard to achieve"?

No, "hardly to achieve" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "hard to achieve", where "hard" functions as an adjective describing the difficulty of the task.

What's the difference between "hard to achieve" and "difficult to achieve"?

"Hard to achieve" and "difficult to achieve" are largely synonymous and can often be used interchangeably. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.