harder than before

USAGE SUMMARY

"harder than before" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare the difficulty of something. For example, "This semester's math homework is much harder than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"One explanation is that the resource constraints facing Labour are much harder than before," he said.

The Guardian

Or were only effective if the athlete had to work harder than before?

The New York Times - Arts

"We are now entering another stage, perhaps as hard or harder than before".

The New York Times

With nothing to lose, he began to hit balls even harder than before, and now they flew in.

The New Yorker

At Harvard, Dean Pedersen noted that students might study harder than before, perhaps because graduate schools are more competitive.

The New York Times

"I think it is much easier to defend now because we are working much harder than before," said Lovren.

The Guardian - Sport

The other category of people, which he said he belonged to, were "people who think people think they won the Nobel Prize by accident so they start working even harder than before".

Independent

According to analysis published this week by Timeform's experts, finding the winner is no harder than before, although, as you may expect, the rules do appear to have undermined the chances of lazy or ungenuine horses.

The Guardian - Sport

But now that moment has passed, damped by the recognition that for many people life today is even harder than before, especially for the poor and for those who survive on tourism — like the army of taxi drivers who are forced to battle ever worsening traffic for ever fewer passengers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

A follow-on study by Reuben Abraham found that, "The free flow of information ensures the fishermen get the opportunity to drive a harder bargain than before".

Forbes

Eight out of 10 Americans think it's harder now than before, taking more effort to get ahead than it did for previous generations.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harder than before" to emphasize an increase in difficulty or effort over a specific period. Ensure the context clearly defines the timeframe being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "harder than before" without specifying what the task or situation is. For instance, saying "Life is harder than before" lacks specifics; clarify by stating "Finding a job is harder than before."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder than before" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. According to Ludwig, it's used to indicate an increase in difficulty or effort relative to a previous state. Examples show its application in various contexts, from sports to economics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

General Usage

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harder than before" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has become more difficult compared to a previous time. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's essential to provide context for clarity and avoid overgeneralizations. While appropriate in both formal and informal settings, consider more precise alternatives like "more difficult than previously" for increased formality or "tougher than it used to be" for less formal situations. Remember that while the phrase is versatile, specifying the timeframe adds precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more difficult than previously

Replaces "harder" with a more formal synonym and "before" with "previously", increasing formality.

tougher than it used to be

Substitutes "harder" with "tougher" for a slightly less formal tone, and restructures the latter part of the phrase.

more challenging now than in the past

Uses "challenging" instead of "harder", offering a more nuanced description of difficulty, and rephrases the temporal aspect.

not as easy as it once was

Expresses the idea by negating ease rather than asserting difficulty, changing the sentence structure.

more strenuous than before

Replaces "harder" with "strenuous", emphasizing the effort involved, slightly altering the focus.

demanding more effort than previously

Focuses on the increased effort required, shifting the emphasis from inherent difficulty to required exertion.

more intensely than in the past

Shifts the focus to intensity rather than difficulty, changing the characteristic being compared.

requires greater effort now

Simplifies the comparison by directly stating the increased effort needed.

aggravated relative to the past

Presents that things become aggravated, indicating a more negative connotation than simply difficult.

increasingly complex compared to before

Highlights the increasing complexity, which implies difficulty but focuses on the intricate nature of the situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "harder than before" to indicate that something requires more effort or is more difficult now compared to a previous time. For example, "The competition is "tougher than before"" or "Training is "more intense than before"".

What's a more formal way to say "harder than before"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "more difficult than previously" or "more challenging now than in the past".

Is it always necessary to specify the timeframe when using "harder than before"?

While not always mandatory, specifying the timeframe adds clarity. For example, instead of "Saving money is harder than before", you could say "Saving money is "more difficult than it was last year"".

What's the difference between "harder than before" and "more difficult than ever"?

"Harder than before" implies a comparison to a specific past state, while "more difficult than ever" suggests it's the most challenging it has ever been, without necessarily referring to a defined past period.