harder demands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harder demands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to requests or requirements that are more challenging or difficult to meet than usual. Example: "The project has faced harder demands this quarter, requiring the team to work overtime to meet deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Harder and harder demands on quality of products are bringing the need for important dimensions of precision mechanical components to be 100% controlled.

Vacuum

They share the view of many top German economists that QE without harder demands of structural reform will do little to help the peripheral countries in the euro zone, and leave German taxpayers on the hook.

The Economist

Independence has been a long-running battle between Catalonia and Madrid, but as the recession continues to hit the country harder, demands for a referendum on secession have grown, and the National Assembly of Catalonia called on its supporters to take to the streets to show their strength.

The Guardian

We suggested that one of the reasons to use NIRT is that more items might be able to be retained in the final scale, comparing to traditional parametric approaches, which make harder demands on items.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"We looked forward to Wales camps because he led by example from the front, making people work harder, demanding more and everyone wanted to do their best because he was a generous person.

BBC

"These demands this exchange of letters with Tusk, they weren't really hard demands," said Paterson.

The Guardian

Some of these elected officials came on with fairly rough edges because they were making consistent and hard demands.

The New York Times

Gabor features in several anecdotes told on the talkshow circuit about nightmare guests, being accused of hard demands and an imperious manner.

The Guardian - Film

His mother works hard, demands respect, and appreciates the middle-class values of the white community around her. His father is footloose and fun loving.

Huffington Post

This is perhaps one of the hardest demands to make of a person with aphasia, given that almost all individuals, regardless of aphasia type or severity, have persistent word finding difficulties.

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics

However, some staff considered that there were cases where more drastic methods were needed, like pushing the patient quite hard, making strong demands or using scare tactics.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harder demands", ensure the context clearly establishes what the demands are being placed on and why they have become more challenging. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when describing who is placing the "harder demands". Active voice makes the statement more direct and impactful. Instead of saying "Harder demands are being made", specify who is making them: "Stakeholders are making harder demands."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder demands" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "harder" modifies the noun "demands". It signifies an increase in the intensity, difficulty, or strictness of requirements or expectations. Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harder demands" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express increased intensity or difficulty in requirements or expectations. Ludwig shows it is most commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. The phrase serves to highlight a challenging situation, and while acceptable across various registers, it's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying the source and nature of the demands. Alternatives like "more stringent requirements" or "tougher expectations" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Ensure your writing remains active to make the greatest impact!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more stringent requirements

Replaces "harder" with "more stringent", emphasizing the strictness of the requirements.

tougher expectations

Substitutes "demands" with "expectations", softening the imperative nature of the phrase while maintaining the increased difficulty.

increased pressure

Focuses on the resulting effect of the demands, which is heightened pressure.

stricter conditions

Highlights the firmness and inflexibility of the requirements, using the word "conditions".

greater accountability

Shifts the focus to the need for increased responsibility and answerability.

more rigorous standards

Replaces "demands" with "standards", focusing on the elevated level of quality or performance required.

escalated requirements

Highlights the increasing nature of the requirements, using the word "escalated".

more challenging expectations

Combines elements of difficulty and anticipation, focusing on the difficulty of the expectations.

more exacting specifications

Emphasizes precision and strict adherence to details, using the word "specifications".

heightened intensity

Focuses on the increased level of effort or force required.

FAQs

How can I use "harder demands" in a sentence?

You can use "harder demands" to describe situations where requirements or expectations have increased in difficulty or intensity. For example: "The market downturn has led to "more stringent requirements" from investors".

What's a good alternative to "harder demands"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "tougher expectations", "more challenging requirements", or "stricter conditions".

When is it appropriate to use "harder demands"?

Use "harder demands" when you want to emphasize an increase in the difficulty or intensity of requirements, expectations, or requests. It is suitable in both formal and informal contexts where there's a need to show that things are more challenging than before.

What is the difference between "harder demands" and "higher expectations"?

"Harder demands" implies a more forceful or stringent set of requirements, whereas "higher expectations" suggests elevated standards or anticipated performance. The former can imply pressure, while the latter focuses on goals.