harder still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harder still" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is even more difficult than previously mentioned or implied. Example: "The task was challenging, but harder still was the need to meet the tight deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That would be harder still.

The Economist

Kavanagh drove himself harder still.

The Economist

The politics is harder still.

The Economist

Then it gets harder still.

The New York Times

Germany was hit harder still.

The Economist

A good religious teacher is harder still.

The New Yorker

And harder still to lose her.

The New York Times - Magazine

But this is harder still to imagine.

The Economist

And it may get harder still.

The New York Times - Travel

It's harder still for their animals.

The New York Times - Books

But measuring unemployment is harder still.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harder still" to emphasize a significant increase in difficulty or effort compared to a previously mentioned challenge. It effectively highlights the escalating nature of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "harder still" when describing a simple difference in difficulty. Reserve it for situations where there's a clear escalation or progression of challenges. For example, don't say "Walking is hard, running is harder still" when you could simply say "running is harder."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder still" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or adjective to indicate a higher degree of difficulty than what was previously mentioned. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts to escalate the sense of challenge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "harder still" is a grammatically sound and widely used comparative phrase that serves to emphasize an increased level of difficulty. According to Ludwig AI, it is deemed correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in formal and scientific writing, indicating its versatility. When employing this phrase, ensure it's used to genuinely highlight an escalation of challenge rather than a simple comparison. Consider alternatives like "even more difficult" or "increasingly challenging" for nuanced expressions. With a high expert rating and frequent occurrence in authoritative sources, "harder still" is a reliable choice for expressing increasing difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even more difficult

Emphasizes the increased difficulty compared to something already challenging.

increasingly challenging

Highlights the continuous increase in the level of challenge.

yet more demanding

Stresses the additional demands and requirements involved.

still more arduous

Emphasizes the strenuous and laborious nature of the task.

more complicated than that

Focuses on the increased complexity of the situation.

a greater challenge

Highlights the magnitude of the challenge.

an even tougher task

Focuses on the difficulty level of the task.

more formidable yet

Emphasizes the imposing and daunting nature of the challenge.

an escalation of difficulty

Directly states the increase in the level of difficulty.

a steeper climb

Uses a metaphor to describe the increasing difficulty.

FAQs

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

Use "harder still" to indicate that something is even more difficult than something that has already been mentioned. For example, "The first test was difficult, but the second test was harder still".

What are some alternatives to using "harder still"?

You can use alternatives like "even more difficult", "increasingly challenging", or "yet more demanding" depending on the specific context.

Is "harder still" formal or informal?

"Harder still" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is widely understood and grammatically correct. Its usage depends more on the surrounding language and tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "harder still" and "harder anyway"?

"Harder still" implies an increasing level of difficulty, while "harder anyway" suggests that something is difficult regardless of previous circumstances or efforts.