hard to reason with

USAGE SUMMARY

'hard to reason with' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to someone who is difficult to convince or to persuade. For example, "My co-worker is so hard to reason with; he never listens to my ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's hard to reason with an 8-year-old that you're forgoing Disney World in favor of Pittsburgh.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Unfortunately, query semantics for best-effort algorithms are ill-defined, making it hard to reason about guarantees associated with the result returned.

Stanford University

"It's harder trying to reason with them than it was 20 years ago," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

I thought long and hard about how to reason with him, how to persuade him to change his mind, but nothing I said made any difference.

The Guardian - Film

People whose brain damage makes it hard to integrate reason with emotion make poor decisions, if they can make them at all.

Huffington Post

It was hard, like having your own child in front of you, and trying to reason with them.

The Guardian

Try to reason with her.

WikiHow

Try to reason with them.

WikiHow

Election eve 2014 made evident early and forcefully that American public opinion is hard to square with reason and logic.

Huffington Post

(They've also lost drummer Phil Rudd, who brings more nuance and swing to the 4/4 metre than most, but it's hard to argue with the reasons behind his exclusion).

The Guardian - Music

Tom is well into his 30's and considers himself a well-intentioned, sensitive person, which only makes his caviling all the more sinister, or tedious (though it is hard to argue with his reasons for not marrying his girlfriend: for one thing, she likes the music of Air Supply).

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone is unwilling to consider different perspectives, use "hard to reason with" to highlight the futility of logical discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to reason with" when the issue is not about logic or rationale, but rather about emotional or personal preferences. In such cases, other phrases like "difficult to persuade" or "unwilling to compromise" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hard to reason with" is to act as an adjective phrase that describes the difficulty in persuading or convincing someone. Ludwig provides examples showing its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to reason with" effectively conveys the challenge of persuading or convincing someone through logic and rational discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider whether the situation genuinely calls for reason or if emotional factors are at play. As Ludwig's examples illustrate, the phrase is most effective when emphasizing the futility of applying logic to a particular person or situation. Alternative expressions, such as ""difficult to persuade"" or ""unresponsive to reason"", can offer nuanced shades of meaning depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to persuade

Focuses on the challenge in changing someone's mind through argument.

unresponsive to reason

Highlights the lack of reaction to logical arguments.

resistant to persuasion

Emphasizes the opposition to being convinced.

not amenable to discussion

Indicates a reluctance or refusal to engage in rational conversation.

stubborn in their beliefs

Highlights the fixed nature of someone's convictions.

inflexible in their thinking

Focuses on the rigidity of someone's thought process.

closed-minded to new ideas

Emphasizes the unwillingness to consider alternative perspectives.

set in their ways

Implies a resistance to change or new approaches.

dogmatic in their views

Highlights the unwavering adherence to specific principles or doctrines.

obdurate to arguments

Indicates a persistent refusal to be swayed by logical reasoning.

FAQs

What does "hard to reason with" mean?

The phrase "hard to reason with" means that someone is difficult to persuade or convince using logical arguments or rational discussion. They may be stubborn, inflexible, or unwilling to consider different viewpoints.

How can I use "hard to reason with" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to reason with" in a sentence like this: "It's "hard to reason with" him when he's already made up his mind."

What are some alternative phrases for "hard to reason with"?

Some alternative phrases for "hard to reason with" include "difficult to persuade", "unresponsive to reason", or "resistant to persuasion".

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "hard to reason with"?

While grammatically correct, "hard to reason with" may not be appropriate if the situation involves emotional or personal preferences rather than logic. In those cases, consider alternatives like "difficult to persuade".