harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "harder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as either an adverb or an adjective. For example: "The exam this year was even harder than previous years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The grievances aren't unreasonable, on either side, but the focus on fairness, by making it harder to reach any kind of agreement at all, could prove disastrous.

The New York Times

Women – and their agents – needed to push harder, she said.

The Guardian - Film

It is possible to choose free-range over factory-produced eggs even in convenience stores; much harder to opt to pay a premium of a couple of pounds for a T-shirt that comes with ethical plus points.

The Guardian - Opinion

With the arrival of Ryan Griffen at the Giants this year, he'll also be harder to tag.

The Guardian - Sport

With a 59% drop from the previous frame, Age of Ultron fell harder than any other film in the top 10, and does not look set for a similarly powerful run, probably falling shy of £50m lifetime.

The Guardian - Film

But he said other changes proved harder to conceal, including cuts to its flagship BBC1 soap EastEnders.

The Guardian

People with disabilities and disfigurements have to work harder than non-disabled people to get their foot on the career ladder.

The Guardian

But it's a lot harder than I thought it would be".

The Guardian

The main message from the report is that governments need to work harder to equip workers with the skills needed to cope with a fast-changing economic landscape.

The Guardian - Business

In a letter to Froman last year, Warren and two other Senators objected that the TPP "could make it harder for Congress and regulatory agencies to prevent future financial crises".

The Guardian - Business

Another Republican will almost certainly succeed her, albeit a more moderate one who will be harder to defeat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harder" to compare efforts or challenges, ensure the comparison is clear and logical. For example, "It's harder to learn a new language as an adult than as a child."

Common error

Avoid using "harder" when an absolute statement is more appropriate. Instead of saying "Life is harder", consider specifying what aspect of life is more difficult compared to a specific baseline.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "harder" is as a comparative adjective or adverb. It serves to compare the degree of difficulty or intensity of one thing relative to another. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status, as showcased in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harder" functions as a comparative adjective or adverb, indicating a greater degree of difficulty or effort. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. When writing, ensure the comparison is clear and avoid using "harder" in vague, absolute statements. Consider alternatives like "more difficult" or "more challenging" for nuanced meaning. "Harder" is a versatile term for expressing relative difficulty or increased effort across various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more difficult

Focuses on the difficulty aspect rather than the effort involved.

more challenging

Implies a stimulating or engaging difficulty.

more strenuous

Emphasizes the physical or mental effort required.

more demanding

Highlights the high requirements or expectations.

more taxing

Suggests a draining or exhausting effect.

with greater effort

Rephrases "harder" using a prepositional phrase to describe the manner of performing an action.

with increased difficulty

Rephrases "harder" using a prepositional phrase to emphasize the increased level of difficulty.

to a greater extent

Broader in meaning, indicating a higher degree in general.

more intensely

Emphasizes the degree of focus or strength applied.

more rigorously

Suggests a strict and thorough approach.

FAQs

How can I use "harder" in a sentence?

You can use "harder" to compare the difficulty of two tasks, such as "It's "harder to climb Mount Everest" than a small hill" or to express increased effort, as in "He needs to work "harder to succeed"".

What is a synonym for "harder" that describes a greater level of difficulty?

Synonyms for "harder" that describe a greater level of difficulty include "more challenging", "more difficult", or "more demanding" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "work harder" or "work more hard"?

"Work harder" is the correct phrasing. "Harder" is the comparative form of the adverb "hard", so "work harder" is grammatically correct. "Work more hard" is redundant and not standard English.

When is it appropriate to use "harder" as opposed to "more difficult"?

"Harder" and "more difficult" are often interchangeable, but "harder" can also imply increased effort or intensity, whereas "more difficult" focuses solely on the level of difficulty. For instance, "He pushed "harder to win"" emphasizes effort, while "The test was "more difficult" this year" highlights the challenge.