hard to find

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express difficulty in locating something, or to describe something that is rare. For example, "This type of vintage car is hard to find."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's hard to find".

The New York Times - Arts

Opposition is hard to find.

The Economist

It's hard to find pants".

The New York Times - Sports

"That's hard to find out.

The New York Times

Those are hard to find.

The New York Times

Jobs are hard to find.

The New York Times - Sports

But he's hard to find.

The New Yorker

Astronauts are hard to find.

The New York Times - Sports

It's hard to find support".

The New York Times

It's hard to find parallels.

The New York Times

Taxis are hard to find".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to find", consider the specific reason for the difficulty. Is it due to rarity, being hidden, complexity, or another factor? Clarifying this will make your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid overusing "hard to find" when more specific adjectives like "rare", "scarce", or "elusive" would better capture the nuance of the situation. These alternatives provide greater clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to find" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It describes the difficulty or challenge associated with locating or obtaining something, highlighting its scarcity or elusiveness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to find" is a versatile and frequently used phrase to describe something that is not easy to locate or obtain. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for a broad range of contexts. Its neutral register and widespread use in news, media, and academic writing, make it an effective way to communicate difficulty in finding something. To enhance precision, consider substituting "hard to find" with more specific adjectives like "rare" or "elusive" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not easily found

A straightforward way of expressing the difficulty in finding something.

difficult to locate

Focuses on the challenge of physically finding something.

rare to come by

Indicates that something is uncommon and thus difficult to acquire.

scarce to discover

Highlights the rarity and the act of uncovering something.

challenging to unearth

Emphasizes the effort required to reveal or discover something hidden.

tough to track down

Highlights the effort needed to find something, often after a search.

uncommon to encounter

Focuses on the infrequency of experiencing or finding something.

elusive to pinpoint

Suggests that something is difficult to define or identify precisely.

like looking for a needle in a haystack

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the extreme difficulty in finding something.

in short supply

Focuses on limited availability making acquisition challenging.

FAQs

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

You can use "hard to find" to describe something that is difficult to locate or obtain. For example, "Good employees are "hard to find" in this economy" or "A parking spot was "hard to find" near the stadium".

What are some alternatives to "hard to find"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "difficult to locate", "scarce", "rare", or "elusive".

Is it ever incorrect to use "hard to find"?

While grammatically correct, "hard to find" might be less effective if a more specific adjective better captures the reason something is difficult to locate. Choose the word that most accurately reflects the specific challenge.

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

The phrases are very similar, but "difficult to locate" might imply a more active search process, while "hard to find" can simply describe something that is generally uncommon or not easily accessible. For example, it might be "hard to find" a specific rare book, but difficult to locate a specific person in a crowd.