hard to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'hard to maintain' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is difficult to maintain or keep going, such as a relationship or a job. For example, "The long-distance relationship was hard to maintain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hard to maintain that level.

The New York Times

That stance may be hard to maintain.

The Economist

But "management quality" is hard to maintain.

The Economist

But she tried hard to maintain focus.

The New York Times - Sports

"Fitness is hard to maintain.

The Guardian - Sport

It's hard to maintain a meaningful friendship.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Privacy will be hard to maintain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Still, secrecy can be hard to maintain.

The New York Times

"It's just hard to maintain that".

The New York Times

But it's hard to maintain it.

The New York Times

It's very hard to maintain staff morale.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like relationships or motivation, use "hard to maintain" to convey the effort required to sustain them over time. For example, "It's hard to maintain motivation when working alone."

Common error

Avoid using "hard to maintain" when simpler phrases like "difficult" or "challenging" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the aspect of long-term upkeep or continuation is particularly relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to maintain" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a difficulty or challenge associated with sustaining or preserving something. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to maintain" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the difficulty in sustaining something over time. Ludwig AI validates this with numerous examples across various sources, including news, science, and academia. The phrase functions as an adjective phrase, conveying a sense of ongoing effort and potential challenges. While generally neutral in register, it leans slightly towards formal and professional contexts. Alternatives such as "difficult to preserve", "challenging to uphold", and "tough to sustain" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to preserve

Focuses specifically on the challenge of keeping something in its current state.

challenging to uphold

Emphasizes the effort required to keep something at a certain standard or level.

tough to sustain

Highlights the difficulty in ensuring something continues over time.

not easy to keep up

Indicates that continuous effort is needed to maintain pace or progress.

hard to keep going

Suggests a struggle to continue an activity or process.

difficult to continue

Directly states the problem of ensuring continuity.

a struggle to conserve

Highlights effortful preservation of a resource or quality.

demanding to retain

Indicates that significant effort is necessary to keep something.

taxing to perpetuate

Implies a burden in causing something to continue indefinitely.

laborious to conserve

Emphasizes the hard work involved in protecting something from loss or decay.

FAQs

What does "hard to maintain" mean?

It means something requires significant effort to keep in its current state or to continue over time. It implies that without ongoing effort, the thing in question will deteriorate or cease to exist.

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

You might say, "The old car is beautiful, but it's "hard to maintain"" or "Sobriety is "hard to maintain" when surrounded by negative influences."

What are some alternatives to "hard to maintain"?

Consider using "difficult to preserve", "challenging to uphold", or "tough to sustain" depending on the specific context.

Is "hard to maintain" formal or informal?

It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The phrase is commonly used in news articles, academic papers, and everyday conversations.