hard to extend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to extend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to expand, lengthen, or broaden in scope or application. Example: "The current software architecture is hard to extend, making it challenging to add new features without significant rework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

However, the existing tools for such task are either too slow or hard to extend the race condition detection mechanism.

Journal of Systems Architecture

Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, has pushed hard to extend the Met's performances into the electronic realm.

The New York Times

However, DQ2 is reaching its limits in terms of scalability, requiring a large number of support staff to operate and being hard to extend with new technologies.

Nuclear and Particle Physics Proceedings

It's not hard to extend Mr. Podesta's theory about the legislative box to other areas in which the administration has faltered.

The New York Times

China's state banks are competing hard to extend car loans.All this makes the hassles that foreign carmakers tend to experience in China seem more bearable.

The Economist

But Republicans are pushing hard to extend all the Bush-era tax cuts, not just those for lower- and middle-income taxpayers.

The New York Times

Linking the Golan situation to the Iraq killings two days earlier, Mr. Churkin said: "Some people are trying very hard to extend the Syrian conflict.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr Vasella later refused the package.After Mr Minder's victory it will become harder to extend such corporate generosity.

The Economist

In relation to this, environmentalism might work harder to extend what poet Kathleen Jamie calls "the web of our noticing".

The Guardian

Still, even when rested and ready, people generally find it far harder to extend empathetic concern to a nation than to a neighbor.

The New York Times

Increasingly anxious about the deficit as a political issue, Congressional Republicans are moving to reshape President Bush's budget, with some taking aim at his planned increases for the military and even considering steps to make it harder to extend the tax cuts that expire in 2011.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to extend", ensure the context clearly identifies what is difficult to extend. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to extend" without specifying the limitations or barriers. For example, instead of saying "the system is hard to extend", specify what makes it difficult, such as "the system is hard to extend due to its outdated architecture".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to extend" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the difficulty associated with expanding or prolonging something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to extend" is a versatile phrase used to express difficulty in expanding or prolonging something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts. To ensure clarity, it's important to specify what makes something difficult to extend. Alternatives like "difficult to expand" or "challenging to broaden" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to expand

Focuses on the difficulty of expansion rather than extension.

challenging to broaden

Emphasizes the difficulty of broadening the scope.

not easily scalable

Highlights the limitations in increasing capacity or size.

difficult to prolong

Specifically addresses the difficulty of lengthening something in time.

tough to augment

Emphasizes the struggle to increase or add to something.

hard to amplify

Focuses on the difficulty of increasing the magnitude or intensity.

not readily adaptable

Highlights the challenges in modifying or adjusting something.

difficult to extrapolate

Focuses on the difficulty of estimating beyond the original range.

resistant to growth

Emphasizes the impediment to increasing in size or amount.

inflexible to expansion

Highlights the lack of flexibility regarding increase in size or amount.

FAQs

What does "hard to extend" mean?

The phrase "hard to extend" describes something that is difficult to expand, lengthen, or broaden in scope. It implies limitations or challenges in increasing its capacity or reach.

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

You can use "hard to extend" to describe various limitations, such as: "The current software architecture is "hard to extend", making it challenging to add new features" or "It's "hard to extend" sympathy to someone in King's position".

What can I say instead of "hard to extend"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to expand", "challenging to broaden", or "not easily scalable" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "hard to extend"?

Use "hard to extend" when discussing limitations in systems, plans, or concepts where increasing their scope or duration faces significant challenges. For example, "These traditional parallel programming models are "hard to extend"".