hard to exaggerate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to exaggerate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the significance or intensity of a situation or feeling, suggesting that its importance cannot be overstated. Example: "The impact of climate change on our planet is hard to exaggerate; it affects every aspect of our environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is hard to exaggerate the courage that this involved.

The Economist

But the influence of business is hard to exaggerate.

The Economist

It's hard to exaggerate how much economic trouble we're in.

The New York Times

It would be hard to exaggerate Mr. Dufresne's virtues.

The New York Times - Food

It is hard to exaggerate the toughness of Thieu's position.

The New York Times

Bin Laden's importance to al-Qaida is hard to exaggerate.

The Guardian - Opinion

The implications of this are hard to exaggerate.

The New York Times - Health

"The accomplishment of this play is hard to exaggerate," Wills writes.

The New Yorker

It is hard to exaggerate China's weight in the world economy.

The Economist

It's hard to exaggerate the heady romance embodied by that particular newspaper at that particular time.

The New Yorker

It's hard to exaggerate the far-reaching effect of Title IX on American society.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase "hard to exaggerate", ensure it's followed by a concrete explanation or example to support the claim. This provides context and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to exaggerate" when you actually intend to express hyperbole. This phrase implies the reality is already substantial, not that you are intentionally inflating the truth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to exaggerate" functions as a qualifier that emphasizes the significance or intensity of a situation, feeling, or concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression for underscoring that something's importance can't be overstated. Examples show it introducing statements about events or ideas.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to exaggerate" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the significance of something without resorting to hyperbole. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. As demonstrated by numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist, it is particularly common in news and media. To use it effectively, follow it with specific details to support your statement, and remember that it implies the reality is already quite substantial. Alternatives like "difficult to overstate" or "cannot be overemphasized" offer similar shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to overstate

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", maintaining the core meaning with a slightly more formal tone.

not easy to overemphasize

Substitutes "hard" with "not easy" and "exaggerate" with "overemphasize", slightly softening the assertion.

cannot be overstated

Emphasizes the impossibility of exaggerating, conveying a strong sense of significance.

importance cannot be overstated

Focuses on the importance of something, reinforcing the idea that it's difficult to exaggerate its significance.

significance is immense

Directly states the significance, avoiding the negative construction of "hard to exaggerate".

impact is profound

Highlights the depth and extent of the impact, suggesting it's difficult to exaggerate its effects.

magnitude is striking

Emphasizes the impressive scale or size, implying that it's hard to overstate.

impossible to amplify

Indicates that increasing the description or impact of something is not possible because it is already high.

value is immeasurable

Indicates that the value cannot be measured due to being too high and therefore, also hard to exaggerate.

difficult to amplify

Indicates that increasing the description or impact of something is difficult because it is already high.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "hard to exaggerate" in a sentence?

To effectively use "hard to exaggerate", follow it with specific details or examples that support the idea you're trying to convey. For instance, "It's "hard to exaggerate" the impact of the internet; it has transformed nearly every aspect of modern life."

What are some alternatives to "hard to exaggerate"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to overstate", "cannot be overemphasized", or "importance cannot be overstated" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it ever appropriate to use "impossible to exaggerate"?

While similar in meaning, "impossible to exaggerate" suggests an even stronger sense of significance than ""hard to exaggerate"". Use it when the true extent of something is truly beyond any form of overstatement.

How does the tone of "hard to exaggerate" compare to simply stating a fact?

"Hard to exaggerate" adds emphasis and indicates that the factual statement might not fully capture the magnitude of the situation. It invites the reader to consider the full implications.