hard to continue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to continue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or task that is difficult to maintain or persist in. Example: "After several setbacks, it became hard to continue with the project as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is becoming hard to continue".

The Guardian - Sport

And my job is to work hard to continue that".

The New York Times - Sports

Given this, the Iranian government may find it hard to continue to refuse to talk.

The Economist

"We're going to try very hard to continue to be statewide," Mr. Goldman said.

The New York Times

"It's hard to continue to have a rhythm with that type of time off".

The New York Times - Sports

When he died, in 1990, Gaultier found it hard to continue with the business they had created together.

The New Yorker

Some doctors worried that it would be hard to continue teaching young doctors with a smaller caseload.

The New York Times

It is very hard to continue speaking, like nothing strange has happened, but somehow I manage to keep going.

The New Yorker

It would be hard to continue a relationship with someone on that intimate a level, making yourself very vulnerable.

The New York Times

It's really hard to continue making consistently good records with the same fresh perspective that an artist is capable of when they started their career.

Independent

In the first two episodes, there's an additional twist: the companies are run by the founders' children, who are finding it hard to continue their parents' legacies.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to continue", ensure that the subject and context clearly define what is becoming difficult to sustain. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to continue" when the situation is merely inconvenient rather than genuinely difficult. Overstating the difficulty can diminish the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to continue" primarily functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the difficulty associated with sustaining an action or state. As shown in Ludwig, it commonly modifies verbs related to persistence or continuation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to continue" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe situations where maintaining a course of action becomes difficult. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and applicable across various contexts, primarily in news, science, and formal business settings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is becoming difficult to sustain. Alternatives such as "difficult to proceed" or "challenging to carry on" can be used for variety, depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to proceed

Emphasizes the difficulty in moving forward.

challenging to carry on

Highlights the demanding nature of continuing.

tough to maintain

Focuses on the effort required to sustain something.

strenuous to persist

Stresses the effort involved in maintaining course.

laborious to sustain

Highlights the burdensome nature of continuing.

arduous to uphold

Indicates the demanding nature of maintaining something.

grueling to prolong

Emphasizes the exhausting nature of extending something.

unwieldy to protract

Focuses on the impracticality of lengthening something.

cumbersome to perpetuate

Highlights the difficult process of maintaining something undesirable.

precarious to preserve

Indicates the precarious state of what is being preserved.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to continue" to describe situations where it's challenging to proceed. For example, "After the funding cuts, it was hard to continue the project."

What are some alternatives to "hard to continue"?

Alternatives include "difficult to proceed", "challenging to carry on", or "tough to maintain", depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "hard to continue" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard structure of an adjective followed by an infinitive.

When is it appropriate to use "hard to continue" versus "difficult to start"?

"Hard to continue" implies that something was already in progress but is becoming difficult to sustain, while "difficult to start" indicates an initial challenge in beginning something new.