harder than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'harder than' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to compare two or more things. For example: "The math problem this year was harder than last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trained harder than ever.

The New Yorker

harder than Hellickson's.

The New York Times

They played harder than us.

The New York Times - Sports

Asians work harder than Europeans.

The Economist

What's harder than you figured?

The New York Times

Golf is harder than that.

The New York Times

It was harder than marble.

Independent

It's harder than it sounds.

The New York Times

Apparently, harder than you think.

The New Yorker

It's harder than we thought.

The New Yorker

is harder than it appears.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harder than", ensure that you are comparing like items to maintain clarity and logical flow. For example, "Climbing Mount Everest is harder than climbing a small hill."

Common error

Avoid using "harder than" when comparing something to a person. Instead, compare actions or abilities. For example, instead of saying "This task is harder than John", say "This task is harder than what John can do."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to indicate that one thing possesses a greater degree of difficulty or intensity compared to another. Ludwig confirms this by providing numerous examples where "harder than" is used to draw comparisons across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harder than" is a grammatically sound and widely used comparative phrase that serves to express relative difficulty or intensity. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, although it's most frequently found in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it is crucial to maintain comparison of similar subjects to maintain clarity and consider more formal alternatives like ""more challenging than"" or "more difficult than" in professional or formal writing. Avoid misplacing comparisons by comparing actions to people. Considering the linguistic analysis and usage patterns, "harder than" remains a versatile and valuable component of the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more challenging than

Emphasizes the level of difficulty involved.

more difficult than

A direct synonym, focusing on the comparative difficulty.

tougher than

Suggests a more robust and resilient level of difficulty.

more strenuous than

Highlights the effort and energy required.

more demanding than

Focuses on the requirements and expectations involved.

not as easy as

Expresses the comparison in terms of ease, or lack thereof.

more complicated than

Highlights the complex nature of the task or situation.

a greater challenge than

Emphasizes the magnitude of the difficulty.

surpasses in difficulty

A more formal way to state that something is more difficult.

presents a greater hurdle than

Uses a metaphorical 'hurdle' to represent the level of difficulty.

FAQs

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

Use "harder than" to compare the difficulty or intensity of two things. For example, "Solving this puzzle is "more challenging than" I initially thought".

What's a less common way to say "harder than"?

Alternatives include phrases like "more strenuous than" or "a greater challenge than", which provide a different nuance to the comparison.

Is it always appropriate to use "harder than" in formal writing?

While "harder than" is generally acceptable, consider using a more formal alternative like "surpasses in difficulty" in highly formal contexts.

What is the difference between "harder than" and "more difficult than"?

While largely interchangeable, "more difficult than" is slightly more formal, while "harder than" can sometimes imply a greater physical effort or resilience required.